Columbus Dispatch: Schmid leaving Crew

Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch reports tonight:

The Crew is expected to announce Wednesday that coach Sigi Schmid will leave the Crew after three seasons, according to one of multiple sources who confirmed Schmid will not return in 2009.

An agreement on a new contract could not be reached...and Schmid made no secret of his plans to explore other opportunities. He met with officials from the expansion Seattle Sounders last week. "I think the way things left off after the win in L.A. when Sigi brought us together seemed like a goodbye speech," Crew forward Alejandro Moreno said. "It was very heartfelt and we all got the message."