I don't think the ECNL has leveraged the girls platform to force clubs to enter their boys side at all. It is just a talking point of MLS Next clubs. The evidence of who is dropped from the ECNL boys side points to lack of performance on the second team in clubs that want to have their first team in MLS Next and the second team in ECNL. The problem is that the boys ECNL teams are on average, just as good as the MLS Next teams. Most clubs will have a very hard time fielding two teams that are playing at the same level. When the second team can't perform at standards for ECNL play, the ECNL is telling the clubs they need to play a higher performing team in the league, or they are out. The club is deciding to keep teams in MLS Next, and leave ECNL, then claiming ECNL "kicked them out because....". But, as we are all seeing, the clubs in Texas have realized MLS Next is not providing a better product than ECNL, so why bother with the additional drama and conflicts associated with the MLS second tier leagues, ie. EA, MLS2, EA2, NAL. Just move over to ECNL, and your second teams go ECRL. Simple, easy, and it involves the the girls side as well. I think the problem MLS Next has is there is not a related product for the girls side (the GA is a different organization completely, they are not the partner of MLS).