MLS chief: St. Louis needs more partners for bid

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Major League Soccer’s chief executive has some advice for a group looking to lure a franchise to southwestern Illinois — find more partners and investors.

Last week, the league chose Portland, Ore., as its 18th franchise. That marked the second time Madison County personal-injury lawyer Jeff Cooper and his partners were left out.

The league’s chief, Don Garber, says Cooper wasn’t turned down for the franchise but rather needs more investors to support a potential one. Garber says Cooper didn’t have an ownership group financially able to put together a full bid.

Garber says MLS really wants a team in the St. Louis area for geographic reasons, and he says that region has a soccer history.

Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com