Nov 24 Montreal Impact, Joey Saputo clarify MLS Situation: "We did not withdraw our bid!"

A press conference was held Monday at 10:30 Am at Saputo Stadium following Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber's comments on Montreal's bid for the upcoming 2011 expansion. Montreal Impact and Saputo Stadium president, Joey Saputo met with the Montreal media in order to clarify the facts and shed light on the circumstances leading to the rejection of Montreal's bid.

Mr Saputo was very candid and spoke frankly when it came to his feelings as to how the whole situation had been handles by D«on Garber and the MLS, calling the MLS' actions "lacking proffessionalism".

Saputo also went on to say that he called Mr Garber afrter he had heard that Garber announced the Impact had withdrawn its bid, which prompted Garber to retract this statement during the MLS playoff game halftime interview. When asked outright by a member of the media if he felt that Garber was a liar, Saputo, ever the diplomat, would not concur, but did not make a strong case for the defence either.

Mr Saputo informed all that the partnership with the Gilette family was still intact and it was they, together that decided that the MLS' demands were not viable on a business level and together, they informed the MLS and Don Garber that although they would not provide another rebid (as requested by Garber), they were confortable with the proposition they had made initially and that it was still on the table if the MLS was still interested.

Read on for the official Impact press release .

Tags: Don Garber \ Joey Saputo \ MLS \ Montreal Impact \ soccer \ USL