Nick Sakiewicz stressed that the team hadn't jettisoned Harrison.

"It shouldn't be reported that Harrison is dead or abandoned," he said during a conference call that addressed the MLS expansion draft.

"I just want to clear up any ambiguity our there that may lead people to believe we are not working with Harrison," Sakiewicz said. "I started saying, when we addressed the stadium situation, that it is a very good situation and that there are now opportunities as a result of this governor and his vision for sports. I don't want anyone to think that the MetroStars or our organization is walking away from anything.

"If anything, we have new additional opportunities that we are working on that, and I know that the folks in Harrison are working steadily on this project. So it should not be reported that Harrison is dead or that Harrison is abandoned from our end."

About Codey's comments in the Newark Star-Ledger last week, Sakiewicz replied, "I don't think I'm in a position to comment on that particular comment. You ought to ask him. What I can say that he believes in the MetroStars and that he has a vision for sports in the state of New Jersey and that vision very much includes us. As a result of that vision, we've been working in a very positive and productive manner with the Sports Authority, put together a plan that will get a soccer-specific stadium built."

Sakiewicz was referring to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates the Meadowlands and Giants Stadium, which has been home to the Metros since their inception in 1996.

Asked whether that soccer-specific stadium would be built in Harrison or at the Meadowlands, Sakiewicz replied, "There are some things I can talk about, there are others I can't. I know that in the past we have thrown deadlines out there that we truly believed in. We relied on experts outside of our company. I can't talk about deadlines. I can't talk about that. I can't talk about specifics of the deal."

During the conference call, Sakiewicz obviously was making sure he would not turn off either side when he was asked whether it was more important to him where a stadium was built or just that the team gets a stadium.

"What is most important is that the MetroStars fans have a soccer specific stadium of their own because they deserve one and our organization after nine seasons and some real positive development of the sport of Major League Soccer and this area have its own stadium," Sakiewicz replied. "We have seen what these buildings do for teams and what they do for their fans. It's important that we have our own."

Unsatisfied with the answer, the reporter pressed Sakiewicz on the question.

"It matters that we have our own soccer-specific stadium," Sakiewicz said.

Still unsatisfied, the reporter asked again.

"It matters where it is," Sakiewicz said. "We like to have it in New Jersey. We feel we are a New Jersey team."

But does it matter to him?

"It matters that we have a soccer-specific stadium," he replied.

The Metros' target date for a Harrison stadium was the start of the 2006 MLS season.

Asked if recent events would push back its opening to the middle of that season or to 2007, Sakiewicz replied, "I am not prepared to say it's going to push it back. Again, I'm not in a position to throw out dates or timelines. I don't think that would be wise at this point. We're still hopeful that we can get one sooner than later. 2006 would be better than 2007."

The Metros are still pursuing a practice facility in Pequanock, N.J., although Sakiewicz did mention any timetable of its completion. Past reports had it ready for next season. "We are not abandoning that or taking our eye of that wall," he said. "We are hopeful that we will get our practice facility done there. It is still waiting upon some approvals from the DEP and some local approvals. The developer there could more accurately answer those questions."