IT APPEARS the honeymoon is over.
Union manager Peter Nowak took to Twitter yesterday urging anguished supporters to cease the barrage of insults and obscenities over what looks like a fire sale over the past 72 hours.
Nowak posted on his Twitter account: "I understand why everyone is upset, but please have faith we're doing what's best for the club. Sometimes tough decisions need to be made.
"I do ask that you please stop sending curses to my Twitter account. My daughters and family read them and it is crossing a line. Thank you"
His plea arrived after the Union confirmed rumors yesterday afternoon it traded midfielder Kyle Nakazawa and a 2013 draft pick for an international roster slot. Just this week, the team announced the departures of goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon and forward Sebastien Le Toux.
The biggest fallout came over the loss of Le Toux, a fan favorite and the club's all-time leading goal scorer. Le Toux, an All-Star and MVP candidate and two-time MLS Fair Play award winner, was sent to Vancouver in exchange for cash after a failed trial with Bolton in the English first division. Le Toux told the Delaware County Daily Times in an article published online yesterday that he was pushed out by Nowak and the front office, which split fans loyal to the team and those loyal to the player many viewed as the face of the franchise.
But as Nowak addressed reporters following only his club's fourth training session, he remained steadfast that there was a method to his madness - even if the fans see otherwise.
"As I said before and I'll say it again this is about the team," Nowak said. "And it's not only me that feels this way, it's the coaching staff, the board and the owners. We all saw the article and what was said [by Le Toux] after the trade, and I feel either you are a part the team or the team is a part of you, and, at the end, I don't think this was the case [with Sebastien]."
Danny Califf, who Nowak said will retain the role of captain this season, wished bon voyage to the Frenchman, but noted the way his former teammate went about conveying his discontent with the franchise was perhaps a little ill-advised.
