The RailHawks today traded forward Connally Edozien to Miami for defender Eddie Gutierrez.
“It was a very difficult decision,” said Chris Economides, the RailHawks’ president and GM. “He’s meant a lot to the franchise. But sometimes you reach a point where you need to shake things up. It’s being done two-fold, to create some urgency and open some eyes that no one’s indispensible. And we’re adding a quality player in Gutierrez, who can help fill the void in back and the midfield. It was a difficult decision. We wish Connally nothing but the best. He’s been a real pro. He handled everything wth class and dignity. It’s part of the game, but the absolute most unpleasant part of the job.”
Edozien came into the season slowed by offseason hernia surgery, and he never fully regained his 2007 form, when he led the team in goals with 11 (seven in USL-1, four in the U.S. Open Cup). Edozien started eight of the RailHawks’ first 10 games this season. He scored the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win against Charleston on April 26, and he scored the opening goal of a 2-1 win against Seattle on May 28. He appeared in six of the next nine games, all as a substitute, and played as few as six minutes and as many as 58.
Gutierrez has appeared in 11 games for Miami this season, logging a total of 797 minutes. He is expected to serve a reserve role with the RailHawks.
This is the third roster shake-up in three weeks for the RailHawks. On July 9, they traded forward Jamil Walker to Rochester for forward Hamed Diallo. On Thursday, they signed veteran El Salvadoran forward Ronald Cerritos.
Check back later tonight or early tomorrow a complete story. I’ve got too many irons in the fire this afternoon and won’t have a chance to put together a full story until after tonight’s RailHawks-Whitecaps kickaround.
