Noonan's Return to MLS Blocked

Former Revs' Move to Crew Nixed By League

July 1, 2008

By Nick Williams

Pat Noonan's attempted return to MLS was blocked by the league. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Former Revolution striker Pat Noonan � who left on a free transfer to Aalesunds FK (Norway) this offseason � was primed for a return to Major League Soccer, this time with the Columbus Crew, only to have his return transfer blocked by MLS, according to Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch.

Noonan, who left the Revs to sign a lucrative three-year deal with Aalesunds, was interested in returning to MLS, although not with the Revolution, to revive his international career.

The Revs still own Noonan�s rights and Columbus would have offered New England compensation for the forward, only the league didn�t let it get that far, deeming the Crew�s offer of $225,000 to the Norwegian club as being too rich for Noonan, according to Mitchell.

�New England has the claim to him and we�re not disappointed in that,� Crew technical director Brian Bliss told Mitchell on Dispatch.com. �We�re disappointed in the process being used to get him back in the league. We�re not against giving what we and New England believe to be fair compensation. The hang-up is in the compensation package.�

Noonan, 27, played five seasons for the Revs after being drafted in the first round (ninth overall) by the team in the 2003 MLS SuperDraft. He scored nine goals in 35 games for the Revs last season and netted 42 goals in 137 games over five season with the Revs. He is tied with Joe-Max Moore for second place on the club's all-time scoring list behind Taylor Twellman.

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb