Frank Yallop made his first major moves on Monday as head coach and director of soccer of the Chicago Fire by declining the 2014 options on eight players, including 2013 starters Chris Rolfe, Joel Lindpere, Logan Pause and Daniel Paladini.
Options for Corben Bone, Kellen Gulley, Maicon Santos and Michael Videira also were not exercised.
The move on team captain Pause was somewhat expected, but the others come as something of a surprise. However, their time with the Fire may not be over.
“We are actively speaking with several declined and out of contract players about new deals,” Yallop said in a statement. “We hope to reach agreement with some of them over the next two weeks and will announce as those deals are reached."
Meanwhile, Chicago picked up the contract options on goalkeepers Sean Johnson and Alec Kann; defenders Jalil Anibaba, Austin Berry, Hunter Jumper and Steven Kinney; midfielders Alex, Brendan King and Victor Pineda; and forward Quincy Amarikwa.
Seven players were already under contract for the 2014 season: defenders Gonzalo Segares and Bakary Soumare; midfielders Dilly Duka, Jeff Larentowicz and Patrick Nyarko; and forwards Juan Luis Anangono and 2013 MLS Volkswagen MVP Mike Magee.
Defenders Shaun Francis and Wells Thompson are currently out of contract with the Fire. Bone, Francis, Lindpere, Paladini, Pause, Rolfe, Santos, Thompson and Videira are all eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Process.
