London City To Remain In Gauss Hands

LONDON – Monday, November 16^th - London City Soccer Club, the longest playing professional soccer franchise in North America, will remain in the hands of the Gauss family for at least another season. 
 

Two months ago, Ryan Gauss, C.E.O., and General Manager, decided to put the team up for sale.  In doing so a November 15^th transaction deadline was put in place to ensure all preparations and deadlines for the 2010 season could be met.  With that date come and gone Gauss still says he will still be entertaining offers, however none presented so far meet the criteria to let the club rich in soccer history change hands. 
 

Furthermore, life at London City changed permanently and dramatically when Harry Gauss the heart and soul of London’s only professional franchise passed away on October 31, 2009.  The long time driving force of professional soccer in London and Canada died after a courageous three year battle with a brain tumour, he was only 57. 
 

This sudden loss is the main reason why the family has decided to hold onto the club for another season - in order to pay a final tribute to Harry’s legacy.  
 

“After losing Dad and getting through that period I had conversations with my family – after doing so I have made the decision to operate the club for another season.”  Gauss said. 
 

“The 2010 campaign will be a season of tribute to my father and all he has done for the soccer community.  We have already begun the preparations and will endeavour to make sure that this year is extremely successful both on and off the field.  London City is prepared to make several exciting announcements in the coming weeks.”  
 

The club has won plenty over the years -- the 2003 Open Canada Cup victory was one of the most recent and notable. 
 

The South-western Ontario side has opened its doors to hundreds of young players who, with a glimmer of hope, see a stepping stone to big time soccer.  Tyler Hemming, Paul Munster and Frank Sauer are just a few of the London City success stories who made waves in North American and European professional soccer. 
 

With expansion just around the corner and conditional approval for membership into the Canadian Soccer Association, Canada’s only professional soccer league is looking like an attractive proposition as second tier, appealing to more mid-size communities wanting to take a step above the senior amateur level.