CISL Takes New Stance on Splash

ANAHEIM —  The Splash has played with a soft deadline throughout the week in hopes of finding a buyer for the Continental Indoor Soccer League team, but the league finally changed the sport to hardball on Friday.

The CISL sent a letter to team governor Brad Mayne, notifying him that the team had entered into default. The league will take over the Anaheim franchise rights within 30 days unless the team posts a $200,000 letter of credit.

“As per the bylaws of the league, they had to give us 30 days notice of their intent to take control of the franchise,” Mayne said. “Practically, we need to move forward and get something done right away.

“We’re not going to post the letter unless we have a partner.”

The league is expected to decide Tuesday which teams will compete in 1996. Monday, the Splash will meet with a potential buyer, who had told Splash management he would deliver his answer by 5 p.m. Friday, but called and requested a delay through the weekend.

“He could have called and said, ‘I’m not doing it,’ ” Mayne said. “We set up a meeting for Monday to give it one last try.”

Mayne also said he received another inquiry about the team on Friday, but had only a name of a representative.

“Hopefully, the league does well and we find a partner,” said Mayne, who represents Ogden Facility Management Corp., the operator of the Pond and owner of the Splash. “One of the things I’ll require is that we retain a percentage of the ownership and that I be involved in the Board of Governors meetings to protect our interests.”