As part of canvassing print, radio and TV media this week, Curt Johnson spoke to WRALSportsFan as a follow-up to last Friday’s exclusive interview, his first public comments since news broke on May 27 that Aaron Davidson, ex-chairperson of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and former president of Traffic Sports USA, Inc., the majority stakeholder in the RailHawks, was among 14 FIFA officials and sports marketing executives indicted in an ongoing U.S. corruption probe.

Wednesday’s half-hour interview covered RailHawks issues both related and unrelated to the FIFA and Traffic Sports scandal:

WRALSportsFan: What can you share about whether there’s been any change since last week in the RailHawks’ status with Traffic Sports and the North American Soccer League (NASL)?

CURT JOHNSON: I don’t have any new information. We continue to operate as we did prior to this, executing our 2015 plan. In my world and the world of our players and staff, it hasn’t changed other than asking a lot of questions about it. The thing that has changed big-picture is that we had private conversations in the past about seeking world-class owners with a vision for the highest level of soccer in the Triangle. Now that conversation is very public. I’ve done multiple interviews and had multiple conversations over the past couple of weeks about that.

What prompted this week’s media blitz?

The fact that you guys keep asking me to do interviews [laughs]. I rarely turn down an opportunity to talk about the RailHawks and professional soccer. But also the dust has settled some, and now we all have a handle on what this situation is. Two weeks ago, we didn’t have a handle on it—it was new information. I was getting the information the same time everybody else way, so I think it was the smart thing to take a step back and educate ourselves.

Are there any NASL Board of Governors meetings scheduled, either in person or telephonic?

I don’t think I can comment with updates on when the [league] owners are getting together or not getting together. I have to keep that private.

Will Traffic Sports remain the owner of the RailHawks through the rest of this season?

That’s a good question. I do not know the answer to that. What I do know is that over the past year-and-a-half to two years we’ve been in active if not consistent conversations with prospective owners, more as a result of this situation as interest level is growing, some of which will require further conversations.

Has there been an increase or spike in the frequency of those conversations over the past two weeks?

What I would say is that there’s more interest than ever in RailHawks ownership and professional soccer in the Triangle. Some people who are causally following the team have concerns whether there is a future for professional soccer in the Triangle. We have 20 years of professional soccer history here … There are more folks than ever interested in owning the RailHawks, and that’s been a good byproduct of what’s happened.

[The FIFA scandal] comes at a time when there is more interest in investment in soccer in the United States than ever before. It’s on the front page of papers daily. So it’s not surprising to me that people wherever I go have a thought or some interest. I fielded a call this morning from someone outside the state of North Carolina who had an ownership prospect that he wanted to talk about.

What was reaction by the RailHawks’ front office to the open letter that the Triangle Soccer Fanatics (TSF) published late last week?

I love it when people step up and relay their support for professional soccer and the RailHawks. We need more of that. We need more people stating their opinions. Whether I agree or don’t agree with them is not really pertinent. This is a time, if there ever was a time, that all of us who care about professional soccer in NC and the Triangle need to step forward with our opinions and thoughts about where we want this to go … We as a community need to fully explore that, fully vet all options and move forward with a plan.

I want people to step forward and state their opinion. In some ways, we’re too nice of a community. Let’s have a discussion about what we want to see and how we want to get there. It’s teed up so well right now. We have so many the pieces of the puzzle in place, and even the pieces that aren’t in place people are ready to advocate and act upon. We need to have that public discussion, because what happens when you have that public discussion it’s exactly what happened in Kansas City. [Johnson is the former general manager of the Kansas City Wizards, now Sporting KC.] It was tough and it took a long time to get those Cerner [Corporation] guys who bought the team. But man, once it happened and they felt the energy around that public discussion and what people wanted, it’s a world-class soccer city now. That’s what I quickly want this to evolve into.

It’s clear the future’s uncertain as it relates to who is going to be the long-term owner [of the RailHawks]. That was the case a year ago, and now it’s even more apparent.

Last week you teased the announcement of a significant exhibition match, perhaps being made this week. What happened with that?

After many weeks of discussions and negotiations, we had a verbal agreement with Sunderland of the English Premier League to come to the Triangle in mid-July to play an exhibition against the RailHawks. We were waiting for the signed contract before we made any sort of announcement. Unfortunately, at the 11th hour, literally two days after we thought we were going to get a signed contract, they backed out and went in a different direction.

Did the current situation involving Traffic Sports affect those negotiations?

Not in the least. We made a lot of progress negotiating the terms of the friendly in the seven days immediately following the breaking news of the scandal. That was not the issue at all.

[Note: According to reliable sources, the proposed date of the RailHawks’ exhibition with Sunderland was July 14. According press releases, the Sunderland will now play Sacramento United on July 14 at Bonney Field in California. Sunderland will then face Liga MX’s Club de Fútbol Pachuca in a separate friendly at Bonney Field on Friday, July 17. Thus, Sunderland will host two friendlies—and presumably receive two appearance fees—without additional travel.]

What is the status of negotiations for other possible exhibitions matches?

It’s usually a month-long process from the first conversation to whether you get the game or not. We’re having conversations with a variety of different promoters and teams in hopes of having a marquee exhibition in August, September or October.

The field condition on the main stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park has been poor throughout the spring season, particularly in relation to past years. Longtime Minnesota United manager Manny Lagos actually appeared disappointed at the field condition after last Saturday’s match. Will there be any change or progress in the field condition between now and the start of the fall season on July 4?

If you look at the big picture over the course of that stadium, the groundskeepers get an A grade. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about it because it’s getting better every single day. We had a cold winter and cool, wet spring. Maybe they could have tried something different, maybe not. But the reality is the Bermudagrass is running, it’s getting better every single day and by July the thing will be a carpet again.

There’s also a rugby tournament being played on the field this weekend. So that’s another reason I ask the question.

We can’t complain about too many events on the stadium field. The field has been fantastic normally. I know for a fact it’s getting better—I walked it yesterday.

What game day events can RailHawks’ fans look forward over the remainder of the season?

We have a July 4 game, which will be an important match with Minnesota United and a 5 p.m. kickoff. On July 8 we have a home game and our first pregame wine festival. On July 18 we have a barbeque pig pickin’ pregame festival. The summer months will be full of festivals and good matchups. And with a payroll that’s in the bottom third of the league, we’re in the top third in the NASL standings and in a position to challenge for a playoff spot.

Is the team going to appeal to rescind the red card that Nacho Novo received last Saturday against Minnesota United?

We looked at appealing it. The reality is it’s probably not for the best. Although we disagree vehemently with it being a red card, it’s a referee judgment and it’s not one that [the league] is going to rescind. This is an opinion call by the referee, and the league isn’t going to rescind based on opinion.