Andy Salandy is the new commissioner for the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the Eastern Premier Soccer League. Andy graciously took time to answer a number of questions Protagonist had for him about the EPSL.

Can you talk about your role with the EPSL, the addition of the Southeast region, and how that came to be?
“The EPSL brought me on given my decades of playing, coaching, administration, and sports management experience. My mission will be to grow the League from Maryland to Florida by developing relationships with local leagues and local State Associations. I believe in the model of what the EPSL is building, in that, it is not about money since the EPSL is a non-profit, rather about sustaining clubs, building a pyramid, embracing inclusion and diversity, and providing exposure for players. I am also excited about the EPSL affiliation with NISA as this is unique in American soccer in terms of connecting and developing a pathway for clubs and players from local elite leagues to regional leagues to potentially NISA Nation and onward to NISA Pro. This open system that we have created in the EPSL excites me because both the players and the clubs can dream about becoming professional, quite unique.

“I am so excited about the EPSL because its clubs and players will be able to compete in all the most meaningful competitions to gain exposure including the EPSL League Championship, opportunity to compete in the NISA Independent Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, US National Amateur Cup, and since all of our clubs will be registered with their local State Associations they will be able to compete in local State Cups.

“Additionally, EPSL fees are more affordable compared to other leagues which aligns with the league's mission to help clubs be sustainable and keep costs down to what is necessary rather than profiting league owners. Further, the league budget is transparent and made available to clubs and the EPSL will provide great value in return. For example, the 2020-21 EPSL Metropolitan Conference champion will win $10,000 in prize money. EPSL plans to have significant prize money at both the conference league play and for the overall EPSL conference tournament champion.

“Finally, the leadership of the EPSL is made up of experienced sports industry and soccer management professionals. We intend to identify and forge partnerships to help clubs and players generate revenue streams and provide exposure to players while creating the sustainability necessary for growth.”

What needs does the EPSL fill in the Mid-Atlantic & Southeast regions?
“The EPSL's aim is to build out a league across the eastern seaboard that connects clubs and players from grassroots local leagues to a regional league (EPSL) to a national league (NISA Nation) then to a USSF sanctioned professional league (NISA Pro). We believe in an open system and inclusion. Not all clubs desire to grow, seek investment, increase their travel and operations, but many do. We are working to build a platform where we are collaborating with clubs and leagues to help them grow. Unlike some other leagues, we are a non-profit and driven by building something special that serves the game and the evolution of US soccer as a whole.”

Will the Southeast region have its own conference or will it be part of the Mid-Atlantic conference?
“The Mid-Atlantic Conference will be a separate conference from the Southeast Conference. We anticipate multiple conferences in the Southeast. Ultimately, the EPSL aims to have somewhere around 6-10 conferences covering the entire eastern seaboard.”

Most US soccer fans crave an open system and specifically promotion & relegation between tiers. EPSL is set up to provide that between the state leagues it is in partnership with. Can you talk about why the open system and pro/rel is an important component to the EPSL and its member leagues?
“Others may speak more eloquently about the benefits of pro/rel and give a lot of philosophical arguments but the bottom line for the EPSL is that we align with our core values of inclusion and an open system opportunity for matriculation from amateur to professional. The US is a big country and there are a lot of entrenched soccer interests but we are going to do our best to build something working collaboratively with local leagues, local state associations, and US sanctioned Div. III pro league in NISA. This will provide a pathway for clubs as they grow that rewards sporting merit but also takes into consideration the business and operational realities of growing a club from a local one that plays on the same pitch every Sunday to one that has to manage their own facility, travel hundreds of miles with overnight stays, and all the other expenses and commitment that comes along with being a fully professional club.”

Everyone loves the promotion side of pro/rel, but the relegation side of that can be a tough pill to swallow, especially for clubs. Do you expect there will be an easy movement between leagues for clubs up and down between EPSL and its member leagues?
“There will likely be some hiccups when it comes to relegation but we will be able to work through those. All clubs that join the EPSL must declare a feeder league and post a bond so they would potentially lose their bond if they do not continue with their declared feeder league, if relegated. Also many of the local elite leagues like the Maryland Majors, Garden State Soccer League, and Cosmopolitan League already have pro/rel that clubs are accustomed to which has worked for years. This system promotes healthy competition and actually helps a club if regulated get better on and off the field. True learning comes from making mistakes or as we like to say failing. Being relegated is just another opportunity to start better next time and learn from your mistakes.”

The Metro Conference is, other than a few exceptions, the top division of Cosmo League lifted into the EPSL. Why is the makeup of the Mid-Atlantic conference markedly different (not just the 1st Division of MMSL lifted up plus additional clubs from Virginia)?
“The obvious answer is the depth of the Cosmopolitan League as compared to the Maryland Majors. That said, the EPSL model is to give discretion to conferences based on the feedback, input, and governance of those participating clubs and feeder leagues. We do expect to receive a few more applications from Maryland Major clubs to join the EPSL for spring 2021. As we grow we will evaluate and create more partnerships with feeder leagues as well as quality clubs in the respective markets.”

Should we expect to see the same teams in the Mid-Atlantic conference that were stated in the fall or will there be a lot of changes?
“Most of the Mid-Atlantic clubs we announced in the summer/fall 2020 have committed to playing in the EPSL for spring 2021. We are expecting to add a few more clubs as well. Look out for a few new faces in the mix as we continue to attract quality teams expressing interest all over the Region.”

The NESL has been around for a couple of years. And, while not exactly structured the same as EPSL, seems to be filling a similar role in USASA Region I. In the Mid-Atlantic, why a new league (EPSL) over an established one (NESL)?
“We want to focus on the EPSL and wish the NESL success and hope that our clubs run into each other in compelling games in the US Open Cup or US Amateur Cup. We will say that until fall 2020, the NESL was a fledgling summer league for a few years that really had lukewarm interest and participation. Multiple EPSL clubs including Lansdowne Yonkers FC, Cedar Stars (now FC Westchester), Steel Pulse FC, and Philadelphia Lone Star all competed in the NESL. Some EPSL clubs expressed interest in joining the NESL for the 2020-21 season, but were excluded for some reason. The NESL has great clubs that are well respected, but the EPSL believes in inclusion, diversity, and giving a chance for all clubs, not just a select few, to have the opportunity to develop and gain exposure.”

EPSL's move into the southeast was a surprise and has caused some discussion about how the league would mesh with leagues such as the Atlanta District League and the First Flight League. Can you talk about what the EPSL is specifically looking to do in the southeast?
“Yes, the EPSL will be very deliberate, thoughtful, and transparent and we will indeed connect with the State Associations and local leagues to mesh together. Unlike some regional and national leagues, all EPSL players will be registered with their home State Association, so we think local state association leadership will welcome our model and will not view us as a competitor. Additionally, elite local leagues are facing increased competition, so we are hoping that a feeder league agreement/affiliation with EPSL (and through us with NISA) will enhance and strengthen local leagues. Our intention is to strengthen state associations and local leagues through our partnership with them.”

Why did EPSL partner with NISA? And what does that relationship practically mean for the league and its clubs?
“We are so excited about the NISA affiliation and honored that they selected us along with the MidWest Premier League and Gulf Coast Premier League as their initial three affiliate amateur leagues. No other amateur leagues have a formal affiliation with a US Soccer sanctioned professional league. We believe in NISA's mission of creating an open system, no territorial rights, and no expansion fees so money can be put into soccer, into clubs, and into players. This is not to say that other models and professional leagues haven't done good things to grow the game and make it more commercially viable, but we believe in NISA's mission to spread the game to a broader set of communities. In terms of some immediate benefits for our clubs, they include a certain number of EPSL [clubs] receiving guaranteed spots to participate in the NISA Independent Cup, compensation to the EPSL and club if a player gets signed to a NISA Pro team, and if a EPSL club leaves (promotes if you will) to join NISA Pro. In addition, if registered EPSL amateur players sign with a professional NISA professional club then there are provisions for compensation (a transfer fee like) to be paid to the EPSL from NISA, which the EPSL would in turn distribute to the club. From this you can clearly see some amazing win-win situations for all parties involved.”

What do you see for the future of the EPSL in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast?
“We foresee the EPSL with 6-10 conferences across the entire eastern seaboard. Conference will play a single table 16-22 match season from September - May (international calendar) with the club at top of the table winning conference championship. Conference champions will then compete in the EPSL play-offs to crown the overall EPSL Champion.”

Anything else you would like to add?
“Dan I would like to close by sincerely thanking you for reaching out to me as the newly appointed Commissioner of the EPSL Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Region. I am excited to be on board with such an amazing group of soccer minds who are as passionate as I am about creating a pathway for players and clubs alike. I look forward to having many more conversations with you as we continue to grow as a league and offer the unique opportunities that our players and clubs will be afforded along the way.”