A legal challenge by Frank McCourt could delay an ownership change.
LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers owner Frank McCourt expressed disbelief over Wednesday's decision by Major League Baseball to appoint a trustee to oversee the team's day to day operations and investigate the club's finances."Major League Baseball sets strict financial guidelines which all 30 teams must follow," McCourt said in a statement Wednesday night. "The Dodgers are in compliance with these guidelines. On this basis, it is hard to understand the Commissioner's action today."
Meanwhile, Jamie McCourt has issued a statement supporting the decision.
"As the 50% owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, I welcome and support the Commissioner's actions to provide the necessary transparency, guidance and direction for the franchise and for Dodgers fans everywhere," Jamie McCourt said in the statement.
Two people with knowledge of the situation say Commissioner Bud Selig was also strongly considering forcing the sale of the team by invoking his "best interests of baseball" powers to wrest the team from Frank McCourt, the owner since 2004, who he believes has mismanaged the franchise while enriching himself, according to the New York Times.
If Selig invokes his extraordinary powers, he would seek to gain the support of three-quarters of the sport's 30 owners, and then sell the Dodgers on McCourt's behalf, the NY Times reports.
According to the NY Times, Selig believes that McCourt has badly damaged the value and reputation of the Dodgers while concerned only with his own profits and perks.
The official statement from Commissioner Bud Selig:
"Pursuant to my authority as Commissioner, I informed Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt today that I will appoint a representative to oversee all aspects of the business and the day-to-day operations of the Club.
I have taken this action because of my deep concerns regarding the finances and operations of the Dodgers and to protect the best interests of the Club, its great fans and all of Major League Baseball.
My office will continue its thorough investigation into the operations and finances of the Dodgers and related entities during the period of Mr. McCourt's ownership.
I will announce the name of my representative in the next several days. The Dodgers have been one of the most prestigious franchises in all of sports, and we owe it to their legion of loyal fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future."
The announcement comes just days after McCourt reportedly got a $30 miIllion personal loan from Fox Broadcasting Company last week to cover the Dodgers' payroll.
The loan marks the second time since the end of last season that Fox has provided money to the Dodgers owner so he could cover expenses, according to the L.A. Times.
The loan was furnished to McCourt personally rather than to the Dodgers, so the arrangement did not require Selig's approval.
A legal challenge by McCourt as well as the divorce case could slow attempts to transfer the Dodgers to a new owner.
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