2022-05-11, 07:00 AM - Word count:
Conclusion to the third season
We are almost at the end of the season with one league game and the SSL Cup Final remaining until we say goodbye to the third season of the SSL. We have had some great games this season and the league champions has already been decided based on the results from MD17. We would like to congratulate for securing their first league title after coming so close in the first couple of seasons and are now able to fight for the SSL Shield during the start of the next season.
Matchday 18 on Thursday still has a lot of drama even though the top two placements have been decided. The fight for third place stands between , and , all within a point of one another. Then we also have three teams with the exact same amount of points tied for 6th that will also be decided on the final day of games. On Saturday the final of the SSL Cup takes place between last season's Cup Champions and fighting for yet another chance at a trophy in their first season in the league.
New Managers
While the current season is coming to an end, we are also looking forward to the start of the fourth season in the league. One aspect of that season is that we will have two new teams joining the fold led by @KZBZ and @SteveAiva respectively. They are both hard at work with the Graphics Department figuring out the intricacies of their branding and will be announcing their team names, logos and kits soon.
There has also been a new hire in Cairo, as @G2019 is taking over the reigns for the final matchday and the drafts leading into season 4.
Expansion Draft
As part of the introduction of two new teams, there is an Expansion Draft occurring scheduled as an offline draft for May 15th at 2 PM EST. The result of the draft will be posted to the forum shortly after the draft being concluded. The rules for this draft are as follows:
PROTECTION LISTS
Each team sends in a protection list consisting of 7 players including all managers (both team and assistant).
At least two EXPOSED players must be under contract for S4. This can include either S3 Rookies or S1-2 players signed to an extension.
Additional protection slots are available for the following costs:
- 1st slot for a S4 First Round Pick
- 2nd slot for S5 First Round Pick + S4 Third Round Pick
These draft pick packages are available to be selected by the expansion managers instead of a player from the team. If the expansion team does not select the draft pick packages, they are returned to the original team the same way the players are.
EXPANSION DRAFT
Each expansion team picks one player/draft pick package per team in a snake draft. Order is determined by lottery. 1st pick in Expansion Draft picks 2nd in the Prospect Draft and vice versa. After a tough contest of dice rolls from both managers the order resulted in SteveAiva's team picking first in the Expansion Draft and KZBZ's team picking first in the Prospect Draft.
Expansion managers can make deals with teams for selecting specific players, which needs to be approved by the BoD prior to the draft taking place.
FREE AGENCY
Expansion Teams are allowed 1 "free" signing of a Free Agent for S4 OR 1 for S5, i.e. the signing will not incur any reduction of their Transfer Budget.
More information about the upcoming season will be announced in the next couple of weeks.
Canadice on behalf of the BoD
Thanks to @sulovilen