On Wednesday evening, Vancouver Whitecaps FC were awarded the Major League Soccer (MLS) expansion first pick over Portland Timbers.
The coin toss was shown on GOLTV Canada and on ESPN2 in the United States during halftime of the 2010 MLS All-Star game in Houston, Texas, that featured English Premier League giants Manchester United.
MLS executive vice president of player relations and competition, Todd Durbin, was joined by 'Caps director of professional teams Greg Anderson and Portland Timbers head coach and general manager Gavin Wilkinson for the MLS Expansion Priority Coin Toss.
After Durbin flipped the commemorative coin - MLS logo on one side and All-Star logo on the other - it came down on the MLS side. Fortunately, the corresponding envelope had the Whitecaps FC logo inside, and as such, Vancouver were declared the winners.
The Whitecaps win means the club will now have the right to declare first priority on one of the player mechanisms on August 11. The Whitecaps and Timbers will then alternate choices through the priority list.
PLAYER MECHANISMS
- First pick in the MLS Expansion Draft
First pick of those players left unprotected by existing MLS clubs.
- First pick in the MLS SuperDraft
First pick in the college and Generation Adidas entry draft.
- USSF D-2 Player Priority on opening of signing period
The Whitecaps and Timbers will be given priority over other MLS teams, if they wish to sign a player out of the USSF D-2 Pro League.
- Allocation Ranking
Priority on any MLS or USA international players returning to the league.
- Designated Player Ranking
If two MLS clubs wish to negotiate with a Designated Player (DP), the club with the higher DP ranking slot will receive priority.
- Discovery Ranking
If two MLS clubs wish to discover the same player, the club with the higher ranking slot has priority to negotiate with the player.
- Lottery Ranking
Whitecaps FC will occupy either the 17th or 18th slot in priority.
- Waiver Ranking
Whitecaps FC will occupy either the 17th or 18th slot in priority.
