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Confirming the initial report by Kevin Kinkead of CBS 3, former Philadelphia Union CEO and Operating Partner Nick Sakiewicz indicated on Thursday night that he will no longer be a part of the club.
Nick Sakiewicz: "I enjoyed my time at the Philadelphia Union & am proud of the team, the organization and the stadium that we built." *(1/2)
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 2, 2015
Sakiewicz: "I wish the Union, Jay Sugarman & the entire organization the best of luck and continued success." (2/2)
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) October 2, 2015
In his report, Kinkead notes that Jay Sugarman is in town, likely to relinquish Sakiewicz of his roles.
According to those close to the situation, team majority owner Jay Sugarman is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Friday. He has reportedly called a mandatory staff meeting in the morning.
As fans' calls for his removal rung out over the past few years, Sakiewicz's stake in the team always served as an obstacle to his ousting. Owner of half of the B Shares in Keystone Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns and operates the Philadelphia Union, he cannot simply be fired. More information on what will become of his ownership stake will likely be revealed when the club confirms his departure.
Sakiewicz, who started Keystone Sports on his American Express card, was instrumental in bringing a Major League Soccer franchise and a soccer-specific stadium to the Philadelphia area back in 2008.
We are still awaiting official confirmation, and, according to Union Press Officer Chris Winkler, the team will issue a statement soon.
UPDATE: The Union have officially parted with Nick Sakiewicz. Long-time Union CRO Dave Rowan will assume the day-to-day business operations for the time being, Jay Sugarman announced today. Questions about Sakiewicz's stake in the ownership still persist, but those, and likely more, will be fleshed out during Sugarman's conference call with the media at 2:00 PM.
UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: The issue of Sakiewicz's shares has not yet been resolved, but Sugarman revealed that they are not worth much and don't allow Sakiewicz a vote on the board. For a more extensive synopsis on the press conference, I direct you to Scott Kessler's rundown on twitter.