Rishi Sehgal is to continue as North American Soccer League interim commissioner for the remainder of the 2017 campaign, Soc Takes understands. NASL owners are happy with the status quo in the league’s front office — with Keith Bruce also as executive consultant — effectively putting the search for a new NASL commissioner on hold for the time being.

Since Sehgal took interim leadership at the beginning of the year, replacing Bill Peterson, the league has not only stabilized but also expanded, with the announcements of two new teams — in Orange County and San Diego — for the 2018 season.

In a further boost, local businessman Robert Palmer will take over league-owned Jacksonville Armada FC on Tuesday. Supervising the Armada has taken up much of the league’s time and resources, with chief operating officer Brian Melekian taking a key role. But now after a lengthy search, Palmer will be confirmed as the new Armada owner on Tuesday, as has been reported locally in Jacksonville. The aim was to have a new Armada owner in place by the start of the fall season, which has now been achieved. The search for new teams is far from over and an 11th franchise, most likely in the Central Time Zone, is due to be announced in the coming weeks. The group presented to the Board of Governors at a recent meeting in New York City. “It is in the final stages,” said a well-placed source. An NASL spokesman did not respond for a statement by the time of publication. You can follow Bob on Twitter @WilliamsBob75. Soc Takes is now on Patreon. Support the staff while getting access to patron-only Soc Takes Pod episodes, exclusive written content and tier rewards. Click here to become a patron today.