make the MLS playoffs as promised. Good

Tim Leiweke has regrets.Jermain Defoe got homesick after less than a year in North America and wanted out. Toronto FC failed to make the MLS playoffs as promised. Good people lost their jobs.That was not part of the plan for the big-thinking president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.It meant, after some heavy lifting behind the scenes in the wake of Defoe, Leiweke has had to orchestrate yet another reboot of the MLS franchise.Were trying to get it right and were not done, he told The Canadian Press on Friday after Jozy Altidore was unveiled at the Air Canada Centre. I believe in the next week or two, people will feel very very good about what our ownership has committed to here. Its pretty remarkable.Defoe, and the gymnastics Toronto had to do to get him here, are behind him. The 32-year-old striker is back in England with Sunderland.In his place is Altidore, a 25-year-old American striker looking to reclaim his glory after a bleak stint in England.Altidore is seen as major boost if for nothing else that he wants to be here — and is being paid a lot to do so.We ended up with a guy who wants to be here and a guy whos very predictable, said Leiweke, essentially summing up the Defoe issue.Toronto has more moves to make, with possibly more big news to come in the form of a Grade-A attacking midfielder. But a lesson has been learned. Any new marquee addition will be a young talent committed to the cause.Leiweke sees that in star midfielder Michael Bradley and Altidore.In a franchise devoid of consistency, Leiweke says he sees some light at the end of the tunnel.We have a chance now to build around these two guys. Theyre young, theyre committed and they want to be here, he said. And they like each other, theyre best of friends. I think were in a fortunate position.Leiweke says Altidore wouldnt be a TFC player had it not been for Bradley. The 27-year-old Bradley is also helping recruit the desired attacking midfielder.Asked whether Bradley restructured his contract to help pave the way for Altidore, Leiweke said: I would say Michael went above and beyond the call of duty here.He is a remarkable young man and I am in awe of how he handled himself these last two weeks. He is a class act.Altidore has a five-year deal worth less than the reported US$30 million, according to the MLSE boss. That number, not only its not correct, its not close. Speaking diplomatically about his last big-ticket purchase, Leiweke said its good to get Jermain settled. Were happy for him back in the EPL (English Premier League), he said. Its what he wanted.We understood he was homesick and we dont fault him for that. I think the only thing was the dance played as to was he really happy or was he not happy and if he wasnt happy then lets figure it out.Still Leiweke is not about to throw Defoe under that double-decker bus. The English striker collected 11 goals in his first 13 MLS games and Toronto never lost a game when he scored.But injuries and a desire to be elsewhere took their toll.Look Jermain was what we thought — which is a difference-maker, said Leiweke. He was a guy that would be just a pure gifted natural goal-scorer. And he was. And Jermain, by the way, was a delightful guy to be around. ... I think the only issue was the communication.Leiweke is grateful to Defoe in that Sunderland was not his first choice. But the striker knew it was the deal that did the most for Toronto, because of Altidore.It was a good experiment. It didnt work out as well as we had hoped. We have nothing but good things and wishes for Jermain. And we move on. Defoe told a different story than his advisers apparently.It was always an awkward communication, Leiweke said. Because if you talked to Jermain, hed be like Well, Im OK either way. But if you talked to his agent and those around him, there was no doubt that somewhere in July he had a change of heart. And, as I said, I do not blame him.I think it worked out as well as it could.In fact, Leiweke is cheering Defoe on in Sunderland.The more goals, he scores, the better for us, he said.We get some upside in this deal, he added when asked what that meant. Youll see in the very near future some of the things we did as part of this deal.That explains why the Defoe-Altidore deal is being described as a swap with cash considerations. Leiweke credited MLS vice-president J. Todd Durbin for helping shepherd the deal.We had to use our allocation, he said. Other clubs had a shot at him (Altidore). Fridays news conference to introduce Altidore came the same day as the deadline for Toronto season ticket-holders to renew at the same price as last year.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Frank Ragnow Jersey . - The Seattle Sounders busy off-season continues with the team acquiring defender Chad Marshall from the Columbus Crew in exchange for a 2015 third-round pick and allocation money. DaShawn Hand Jersey . Ryan Callahan trade talks caught a lot of people off guard. Details are now emerging about why the Rangers would consider such a move. Darren Dreger: He wants a lot of money. Its been widely reported that Callahan is looking for a seven-year term around $6 million per year. That is not accurate. Im told that it is more than $6. http://www.officialdetroitlionsfootball.com/authentic-dwayne-washington-jersey-womens . -- Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. Nevin Lawson Jersey . Founding members of the Genie Army, a group of Eugenie Bouchard supporters who cheered for the rising tennis star during the Australian Open in January, will be in the city for the Rogers Cup, beginning this weekend. Golden Tate III Jersey .Y. -- The New York Islanders were merely content with a lopsided victory.Darren Wassall praised his Derby team after their second-leg performance against Hull and hit back at the recent critics of his side. The Rams produced a much-improved display after looking lacklusture at the iPro Stadium in the first leg on Saturday, and did win the game 2-0.Johnny Russell put the visitors ahead after just seven minutes and the comeback looked on after Andrew Robertson turned the ball into his own net just before half-time, but Derby couldnt find another killer blow to take the tie all the way. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final second leg Hull saw out the game to win 3-2 on aggregate and set up a play-off final with Sheffield Wednesday, but Wassall was full of praise for his team following Tuesdays game. Were certainly very disappointed after Saturday, but I cant stress how proud I am of all the players tonight, the Rams head coach told Sky Sports. Derby Countys Johnny Russell celebrates his opening goal with Craig Bryson Thats how Derby County should turn up. Thats how I want a team representing me to turn up and we certainly turned up tonight. The play did the talking for them, I shouldnt have to say too much.We didnt lose the tie tonight, we lost it on Saturday and we know that but everybody who was questioning our attitude and our courage, our application and desire and what were all about, tonight we showed what Derby Countty is all about and Im very proud of the performance tonight.dddddddddddd Cyrus Christie makes progress for Derby at the KC Stadium. The Midlands outfit had beaten Hull twice in the regular season and had a good record against other play-off sides, and Wassall believes if Derby can continue to perform next season, they can make it to the Premier League.He said: The damage was done on Saturday and we had to put that to bed very quickly, but that performance is the type of performance weve been having consistently since Ive been in charge and unfortunately, when it mattered on Saturday, we didnt get that performance for whatever reason.Wed beaten Hull twice this year, we have now beaten them three times so its a funny old game that we beat them three times and didnt get to Wembley. Will Hughes and Johnny Russell were frustrated not to get the third goal Were very disappointed that were out of the tie because I think everybody saw that we deserved to go through on that performance, but credit to Hull, they won the tie and we wish them luck in the final. At least weve ended the season on a high and Ive said to the players, if they continue to perform like that on a consistent basis for 46 games next season, they will get out of his league. 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