Jackson won't be coming this season

After releasing defender Senad Halilovic last week, freeing up one roster spot, Real Salt Lake is now trying to fill another roster spot after not tendering a contract offer to Bryan Jackson.

Despite spending every day of training camp with the expansion MLS franchise, Jackson's wife is having visa troubles, and realistically wouldn't be able to move from England to Utah for at least two more months. Both parties involved agreed it wasn't worth the hassle this year.

Jackson, who played for RSL coach John Ellinger when he was coaching the under-17 U.S. National Team, had enjoyed a solid preseason, and was projected to be a starter on the reserve team.

Salt Lake thought it was close to filling one of those roster spots with a Trinidad & Tobago international who plays in the A-League, but transfer fee negotiations haven't gone smoothly, and RSL general manager Steve Pastorino said he wasn't "particularly optimistic at this point."

Several other MLS teams have expressed interest in acquiring the Trinidad & Tobago National Teamer as well.

That transaction is just one of a "half-a-dozen different scenarios we're toying with," said Pastorino about filling out the remainder of the roster. Pastorino said he isn't in a rash hurry to sign players, but he knows that when national team call-ups roll around Salt Lake could lose as many as five players to their respective national teams, leaving the reserve squad with no subs.

"In just about all these cases, these aren't big-name guys who would be expected to come in and play on the senior roster," said Pastorino.

TEENAGER'S ARRIVAL: RSL No. 1 draft choice Nikolas Besagno, 16, could be in uniform for the team's reserve squad during an exhibition game against BYU April 27.

Besagno will be in Costa Rica with the under-17 U.S. National Team from April 12-16 for CONCACAF Final Round Group A qualifying. His next commitment with the youth national team isn't until May, and the team is hoping to take advantage of the opportunity.

Regardless of whether Besagno plays on April 27, he's scheduled to join the team in late May for at least two months. After that, he'll rejoin the U-17s in preparation for the World Championships, assuming the team qualifies.

ANOTHER LOCAL PLAYER: Former Judge Memorial High School standout Adam Acosta, who is about to graduate from the University of Redlands in California, might be in uniform for Real Salt Lake this weekend during its Sunday reserve league game at Los Angeles.