By this time, the financial losses suffered by the American Soccer League, SNYSA and ESL had begun to mount.
With the stock market crash a month later, the corporate sponsorship on which many of the teams depended began to dry up.
Consequently, the ASL began negotiations with the USFA to rejoin the association.
This led to additional negotiations regarding the merger of the ASL and ESL.
By the end of the first half in November 1929, Bethlehem Steel led the standings with twenty-three points off an 11-2-1 record.