David Beckham’s partner on MLS Miami deal: ‘I have my fears as to whether it’s going to get done’

David Beckham’s MLS Miami deal was riding smoothly as recently as August, when MLS commissioner Don Garber was “confident” the league would announce Miami as its 24th franchise, “perhaps by the end of the summer.”

Today, roughly three weeks out from winter, and one of Beckham’s partners evoked some concern with Tim Leiweke sharing his fears with the Toronto Sun:

“I’m helping any way I can with David,” Leiweke said. “I hope it gets done, but it’s not done. I have my fears as to whether it’s going to get done because things like this that drag on this long that’s always tough on a process. But for David I hope he lands somewhere.”

“... But our company has a lot of different projects. I haven’t spent a lot of time on Miami lately so I’m not sure if that gets done. I hope it does for David’s sake.”

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement from someone on the inside. Three hurdles remain: (1) League approval; (2) Winning zoning approval from the City of Miami; and (3) Overcoming legal challenges over the lack of a bidding process.

Beckham’s four-year quest to bring an MLS franchise to Miami continues to be a messy affair.

• Top David Beckham partner on Miami deal: I have ‘fears’ it won’t get done [Miami Herald]