Ryan Pyette
The London Free Press

He went from the little kid who cleaned under the Cove Road field stands after games to the young man in charge of his family's sporting legacy.

But yesterday, Ryan Gauss did something he never fathomed while growing up as a part of the London City soccer club.

He hung a "For Sale" sign on the franchise.

"I had a lot of sleepness nights and wavered back and forth on whether to sell and talked to our family about it at length," the Canadian Soccer League team's young leader said. "But the timing is right. All those people in London who said they knew how to run a soccer franchise, now's their chance.

"We're taking offers for City. It was a tough decision but life is full of difficult decisions."


City was created by Gauss's grandfather Markus on Valentine's Day 1973. It remains North America's oldest professional soccer club in active competition.

Shortly after its founding, Ryan's father Harry took over. He quickly became City's heart and soul and steered it through various versions of what is now known as the CSL.

Three years ago, Harry fell ill with a brain tumour and son Ryan was handed the reins. He viewed himself as the caretaker until his father was strong enough to return. But Harry has been in considerably declining health.

"I was just going to warm his seat for him," said Ryan, 23. "We've talked together about selling over the past few years. This isn't my career path. There are a lot of things I'd like to do. I'm interested in running for city politics. I have my (university) degree but to become a professor, it'll take more schooling and time.

"I was recently married and my wife Haley, she deserves the world and not to be dragged down into this business and soccer can be a dirty business."

Gauss said recent on-field results didn't factor in the decision. The club was winless in 2008 and had one win this season.

"I would've come to the same conclusion had we won the CSL championship this year," he said.

"Certainly, it causes stress when you don't win, but long ago City became the team that attracted top young talent and developed them to go on to bigger and better things in pro soccer and we've done that while sacrificing wins along the way," Ryan Guass said.

FC London, which qualified for the USL Premier Development League playoffs in its first season this summer, roared out to a popular start. Gauss also clashed with a few Western Ontario Soccer League premier teams over release of their players.

"Some teams like London Croatia were great about it and letting their players play for us if they didn't have a conflicting game," he said. "But others weren't as good."

The CSL is going through a reorganization at the board level. Cary Kaplan has resigned as league commissioner after nearly five years at the helm.

It's also reported that Hamilton is close to securing a new franchise. The price tag for an expansion team is $100,000.

"City is the oldest team in the league and it comes with a recognizable name -- I'm not just going to give it away," Gauss said. "I'm going to entertain offers until the end of November. We've had people interested in buying before, but until I see a certified cheque from a reputable bank I'm not going to get excited.

"I'm fully prepared to move forward and run the team again next year if need be."

Gauss has told the players there will be a team on the field next year. Player-coach Andrew Loague has agreed to come back.

The City franchise includes a dozen youth squads and the first rights to a team in a CSL women's division.

There is no outstanding lease at the German-Canadian Club.

"They've been great to us, "but that's not saying a new owner couldn't pick up and play their games somewhere else like Western."

LONDON CITY TIMELINE

- Franchise founded on Valentine's Day 1973 by Markus Gauss. His son Harry takes over shortly after.

- For much of the 1970s, City was competitive in the upper tier of the National Soccer League's first division

- Canadian Soccer League folded in 1997 and several teams, including City, joined the Canadian Professional Soccer League

- City last qualified for league playoffs in 2000.

- Won 2003 Open Canada Cup and $10,000 grand prize. Cup runnersup two years later.

- In 2007, Ryan Gauss takes over club for ailing father Harry, who is battling a brain tumour.

- Broke two-year winless drought on Aug. 14, 2009 with a 6-3 home victory over Toronto FC Academy.

- Yesterday, Ryan Gauss announces his family is putting the team up for sale.