By CAMERON MAXWELL, CALGARY SUN
Thomas Niendorf knows successfully running a professional soccer franchise in Calgary is easier said than done.
And after seeing the turmoil of the Calgary Storm over the past three years, he knows what not to do when it comes to handling a soccer team. That's something he'll be taking on as the technical director of Calgary's unnamed A-League side, which will operate as a non-profit organization.
Niendorf has been around the game in Calgary for years and got involved with the Storm in 2001 as technical director/head coach. He learned a lot of lessons but was fired in 2002.
"You have to develop a better system of accountability for all elements of the franchise from the office to the technical program," said Niendorf.
He heads a group -- including two Calgary developers, John Torode and Juergen Hanne -- that purchased the team from the United Soccer Leagues, which had been running it since former owner Michael Vandale walked out in early July.
"You have to utilize the financial resources in a better way. There wasn't enough of an effort made to set up everything or to continue to do everything properly. (Former Storm GM) Mark McLoughlin and myself ran the organization much better without facing the interference of Michael Vandale all the time."
That was in 2001, when the Storm played in the PDL and lost in the league championship game in its first season. The club moved into the A-League the next year and the wheels fell off.
"Then Mike basically took it into his own hands and no one really knew what was going on anymore because it changed, basically, from day to day," said Niendorf.
"I have a pretty good understanding now of the pros and cons. This is something I've passed on to the new management group. I've made them aware of the challenges we will face."
Niendorf, who isn't sure if he'll coach the team, said Hanne, the team's chairman, and Torode, the president, have committed to the 2004 season. But should the franchise fail to upgrade and get a certain amount of fans, they will pull their financial backing.
A big part of the club's future will revolve around how competitive it is and where it plays its home games.
Foothills Athletic Park is a track- and-field facility -- not a soccer pitch -- yet it has been the home of Calgary's pro soccer team the past three years. Niendorf said the side has to play at Foothills in 2004 but is looking at other long-term possibilities.
"Burns Stadium is a possibility, we could work with the U of C on a project to build a small stadium within their plans for the next two or three years and McMahon Stadium could be an option as well if they put field turf in over the next two or three years," said Niendorf.
