Published Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:13 PM
Updated Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:27 PM

 

SSC board brings in new managers

For years the Summerville Soccer Club and Carolina Elite Soccer Academy out of Greenville have been rivals, particularly when it comes to the higher levels of youth soccer. A recent decision by the SSC Executive Committee has some speculating that might change.

Last week, the all-volunteer committee that governs the club voted to turn over management of the SSC to Pearse Tormey and Andrew Hyslop, managers for CESA. Club president Bill Ford says the move should dramatically increase the depth and scope of youth soccer services the club can provide.

However, the move has drawn criticism. Pinewood Prep boys’ soccer coach Jason Birchwood has coached at the club for 11 years and has served as the club’s Director of Coaching for the last year, but will step down at the end of the month. He says he has “a lot of doubts” concerning the managers being brought in.

“Rivalries help build sports,” he said. “They help develop athletes. I’m not sure the CESA people will be interested in forming quality teams in the Charleston area. Also, the Summerville Soccer Club has a rich history and I don’t want to see that go away. It’s important for local people to be involved in running the club. For one thing, you have coaches who have been here 10 or 15 years and now they will have to get approval to coach from people who know nothing about our club.”

Ford points out that the three-year contract the committee approved is not with CESA, but with two individuals. He says the main thing the committee wants to do is bring in someone full-time who can help teach volunteer coaches and place more focus on the younger age groups and day-to-day operations.

“This club has always been run by parents and that isn’t going to change,” Ford said. “The committee will remain in control of the club, but it is time to bring in a professional to do some of the things the parents don’t have time for. We hope every coach stays. We are not looking for a turnover of coaches or teams. We are committed to providing the best soccer experiences possible for all our members at both the recreational and more competitive levels of play. We looked around the state and it was easy to identify CESA as the most successful youth soccer club. That led to discussions with Pearse and Andrew and we are pleased to be able to work with them.”

Under the new management, the club’s Challenge program, which was contracted out to the Bridge Futbol Alliance a few years ago, will again be run in-house. Ford says this will allow kids who now travel to James Island or Daniel Island for practice to once again practice at the Summerville club. However, people with ties to the alliance, including Birchwood, are questioning whether the club membership was given any input into such decisions.

“They have not been informed of what is going on,” Birchwood said. “It should have been brought before the membership. It’s not right for 13 people to make a decision for hundreds. I don’t have a problem with someone else being brought in to run the club. I have probably been here long enough. I just want to make sure they get someone who will only think about the best interest of the club.”

Ford said that because members are so busy, they rely on the executive committee to make decisions for the club. The board has two meetings a month and they are all open to members. However, the vote to award the management to Tormey and Hyslop was made in a meeting not open to members.

“We have talked about this for some time,” Ford said. “We advertised for a Director of Soccer and people knew we were considering different merger options. The way we have always informed our membership of things is through word of mouth and our website.”

Two committee members said the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of awarding Tormey and Hyslop the contract. Ford says the biggest difference members will notice is better organization and fields that are in better shape. Committee member Laurie Fladd has also voiced support of the decision.

“It is important for all SSC members to understand SSC remains its own club with its own elected officers and the local interests at heart,” she said. “Pearse and Andrew will help us select a new Director of Coaching so that we are prepared for the upcoming seasons. We know there will be questions from our members, so we will immediately start to address these question on the website and through other communications.”

Summerville High School boys’ soccer coach Edmund Carson is hoping there is still enough room in the Lowcountry for both the SSC and The Bridge.

“The rift between the Bridge and SSC could have been avoided and is unfortunate because that concept was a good one,” Carson said. “I agree with consolidating the talent regionally in order to compete on a national level for the elite players, but not at the expense of the local players who aren't at that level. … I think this new merger will provide more instruction and competition locally, but may hurt the efforts to create a super-club that can compete with the up-state and out-of-state clubs. I guess time will tell if it will be good for SSC.  

“I hope the result of this is more opportunity for kids to learn and play the game with less of a drain on the pocketbook. In terms of improving at the top end, I like the idea of the Academy Program that the Bridge is involved in. Hopefully, that will remain an elite team that draws the best players.”