Cleveland City Stars Release Players from Contracts

Inside Minnesota Soccer has learned tonight that the Cleveland City Stars have released their players from their contracts.

IMS has obtained an email addressed to all players under contract with the Cleveland City Stars and written by team president Jonathan Ortlip and executive director Aaron Tredway. The two front office executives wrote a heartfelt letter to the players of the organization saying that “After months of negotiation and meetings, and in the midst of the conclusion of our sale, the USL decided to terminate our franchise just prior to Thanksgiving.”

The two City Star executives went on to say that the news of termination of contracts came as a significant surprise given the nature of the process. They went on to say that after much consideration and counsel the leadership of Cleveland City Stars decided to accept the leagues termination of our franchise and all implications thereof.

The email also mentions the ongoing turmoil of the battle for league ownership and how it contributed to Cleveland’s problems and stating, “No team is outside of the current turmoil and uncertainty.”

Please click “read more” to read the email in its entirety.

Subject: A Message from Aaron Tredway and Jon Ortlip
Date: Wed, 2 Dec 2009 11:35:22 -0500

To:  Cleveland City Stars players, coaches, staff

Re:  Club status

It has been just over 2 months since the conclusion of our 2009 season.  For the leadership of Cleveland City these have not been your average “off-season” months. We have drafted this brief note to you no less than 5 times in the past 2 weeks. We pray it finds you well and confident though these days may seem unsettling.

Please forgive us for any lack of communication we have provided. It has not been our intent to alienate or avoid you in this process. Until this point it simply has not been possible to speak of our situation formally. Even now we will be brief yet avail ourselves for further discussion should you so desire.

After months of negotiation and meetings, and in the midst of the conclusion of our sale, the USL decided to terminate our franchise just prior to Thanksgiving.  This news came as a significant surprise to us given the nature of the process we were involved with up until that point.  After much consideration and counsel the leadership of Cleveland City Stars decided to accept the leagues termination of our franchise and all implications thereof.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

Our acceptance of the USL’s termination of CCS means that all players are free of contractual obligation to our club.  Truth be told, this situation is not currently the exception to the rule.  Given the current turmoil amongst those who desire to operate the 1st division league in the US, every former USL-1 club finds itself in a similar situation to Cleveland City Stars.  No team is outside of the current turmoil and uncertainty.

At this point we will do anything in our power to assist you moving forward.  It is with great sadness of heart we communicate this news, yet we cling to a belief that “In all things God works for the good of those who love him . . . ”

If you have specific questions we will make ourselves available to discuss, pray and advise as best we can in the days to come.  We love and care for each of you deeply.  If any facet of this process has grieved us most it has been our deep and sincere concern for the wellbeing of you, our players, coaches and staff.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Jon Ortlip and Aaron Tredway