Sigi Schmid, head coach of MLS Champions Columbus Crew, will not be returning to the club next season according to the club's official website. "Sigi was the ideal person to turn around our competitive program and create a championship mentality within our club," the statement read. "As a result, we are well positioned moving forward and toward continued success. We respect his desire to seek the next challenge and wish him nothing but the best."

Speculation has grown over the past couple of weeks that Schmid would not renew his expired contract and possibly move to new franchise the Seattle Sounders.

The Columbus Dispatch however is reporting that Schmid has a non compete clause in his expired contract for the 2009 season and that Columbus will be seeking action from the league.

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