MLS Columbus Crew SC

Crew Waives Four to Become Roster Compliant

Published on March 1, 2007 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Adhering to today's deadline for all 13 Major League Soccer clubs to become roster and budget compliant, the Columbus Crew has waived veteran goalkeeper Jon Busch, defender Chris Leitch, midfielder Jose Retiz and defender Ivan Becerra.

The four will be available to the other 12 MLS clubs in Monday's (March 5) 3 p.m. waiver draft, which will be held via conference call.

"The roster compliance date is always a difficult day that requires difficult decisions," said Head Coach Sigi Schmid. "We would like to thank Jon, Chris, Jose and Ivan for all of their efforts on behalf of the club and wish them all the best as they move forward. At the same time, we are very happy with our roster and excited about the upcoming season."

Busch, who is coming back from his second season-ending knee injury in as many years, had been with the Crew since 2002 and is the club's career leader in most goalkeeping statistical categories. Leitch, a Pickerington native, was in his second tour of duty with the Crew, sandwiched around a successful stint in New York, while Retiz and Becerra both depart after one season in Columbus. Retiz started 21 of the 22 games in which he appeared in 2006, while Becerra did not see any league match play.

In order to be compliant, which the Crew now, is, teams must be in line with the following requirements:

no more than 18 players on the Senior Roster no more than 10 players on the Developmental Roster no more than 4 Senior Internationals* no more than 3 Youth Internationals (subject to trades)** team salary budget must be equal to or less than the cap set forth by the League

* Toronto FC may have three (3) additional Senior International players as long as those three players qualify as domestic for US-based teams; ** Toronto FC may have five (5) Youth Internationals

The Crew's roster currently features the 18 permissible senior roster players, as well as eight of the 10 developmental players allowed. Of its 2007 draftees, Brad Evans and Aaron Chandler are currently on the roster, while Ben Hunter, Ryan Junge, Tonci Skroce, Ted Niziolek and Kevin Burns have all returned to school for the time being. They were able to participate in part of the recent preseason camp in Florida and some of them will have the opportunity to join the club in Dallas and/or California later his month. The two open developmental slots could be filled from among that group.

Current 2007 Columbus Crew Roster

Senior (18) Developmental (8)

Brad Evans Marc Burch

Jason Garey Aaron Chandler

Bill Gaudette Andy Gruenebaum

Eddie Gaven Kei Kamara*

Marcos Gonzalez% Brandon Moss

Ned Grabavoy Danny Szetela

Frankie Hejduk Tim Ward*

Ezra Hendrickson Jed Zayner*

Andy Herron%

Will Hesmer

Chad Marshall

Stefani Miglioranzi%

Joseph Ngwenya~

Danny O'Rourke

Duncan Oughton~

Rusty Pierce

Jacob Thomas

Ricardo Virtuoso#

*-Generation adidas; #-Youth International; %-Senior International; ~-Green Card

Check out the Columbus Crew SC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 1, 2007


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