Read this good interview of Aztex owner Phil Rawlins by Arch Bell of Yanks Abroad (and Austin’s own Futbol En Vivo weekly radio show). The first part doesn’t have much new for most Aztex fans, but Phil gives some juicy comments toward the end.

“If I’m looking at it as a business person, it doesn’t make a lot sense for a European club to have a relationship with a MLS club as a source of talent,” Rawlins discussed.

“You’re much better off doing it with a USL or NASL club because of the contract requirements in MLS. We have control over our own players and registration rights. MLS teams don’t. And even with a relationship, you won’t necessarily get a player because of MLS contract restrictions.”

Building off of that argument, the Stoke City director already has his sights set on other major upstream relationships all over Europe.

“The one that is most on the cards is Italy,” he said of his next overseas venture. “We recently met with a president of a Serie A team and we are looking at formalizing a relationship.

Read it all.