NISA updates - Georgia clubs limbo solved for now
Savannah Clovers and the newly-rebranded Georgia FC will play the 2024 NISA seasons
We entered this week with significant concerns as to whether two Georgia clubs in NISA, the Savannah Clovers who have lost investors in the last six months and the vagabond Georgia Lions (an outgrowth of USL L2’s Atlanta area Dutch Lions franchise) would actually kick a ball in league play this season.
Both clubs have had serious financial issues and Dan Creel of Protagonist Soccer has reported that Savannah’s payroll is being covered by NISA. For those new to the lower division soccer scene, this isn’t unusual as NASL the league I worked for intervened in the cases of five different clubs (one of which is now in MLS) over seven seasons to help keep them afloat.
I had been privy to the Savannah situation and in fact, when I arrived at Brave SC’s facility in the Villages two weeks ago for the US Open Cup First Round tie vs Savannah was inquiring as to whether the Clovers had actually shown up because I suspected they would not meet payroll and thus would not travel and forfeit the match. But now we know thanks to Dan’s reporting that NISA paid the bill for that trip and ultimately Savannah won 2-0 that night, advancing to the Second Round where they play tonight.
As for the Georgia Lions FC they have now been rebranded as Georgia FC and have welcomed a new front office setup to its Atlanta-based club. Preston Jarneski is the newly named director of Business Operations and Kerem (“Coach K”) Daser is the new technical director.
“Coach K and I are extremely energized to give this club a do-over in launching to pro,” Jarneski says. “It is more than just unlucky how we got out of the blocks and the questions raised. But we are answering every one of those with this reset. And with support and leadership from the league, we are finding the talent to be successful on the pitch and in the front office.”
Previously introduced as Georgia Lions SC, the club was a victim of front office issues that caused the club to withdraw from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ahead of the 2024 NISA season, as previously announced. My reporting indicates some of this had to do with parting from the Dutch Lions franchise brand and the entanglements that creates- which is no fault of NISA’s. While NISA’s clubs don’t have the greatest track record of sustained success or local relevance, this shift gives me hope that the club can in fact succeed.
“I can’t imagine the pain and uncertainty the club experienced over the last few months,” says NISA Commissioner John Prutch. “But we are here to help them be successful in their vision to bring Atlanta an independent professional soccer club.”
The club is currently coordinating its home matches to be played at Silverbacks Park in northeast Atlanta. This was the former home of USL and NASL’s Atlanta Silverbacks, one of the aforementioned clubs NASL had to intervene to support financially (in the case of that club on two different occasions).
NISA’s season kicks off this week. However, the Georgia FC match with Maryland has been postponed.
Good to get updates on this. Glad too see Georgia seems to be recovering somewhat, horrible timing on that, it was embarrassing. If was over the last six months though I wonder if it was better to have them wait and for NISA just to have to manage supporting Savannah. Could be reasons they wanted to do it this way though.
Regardless hope things are more or less stable now and we can finally move on with the season.
To clarify, this iteration of Georgia (no more lions) FC is being funded by the league? On a positive note, I would hope this means Patel and Vierhout are officially out of the picture. There are certainly enough experienced players lying around to throw together a team (please grab Nagelstad!), and at least the coach has some actual experience with ties to the market.