Fire shocker: Goaltender Busch waived

The Chicago Fire is turning over goalkeeping duties to Andrew Dykstra, waiving popular veteran Jon Busch just days before its season opener.

Busch admitted to being "blindsided" by the decision, which comes at a very difficult time for him, with most MLS teams having settled on their rosters.

"I'm in a pickle here," Busch said. "I'm in a big pickle."

Busch's agent, Mike Jerosi, is trying to find a spot for him, looking in Europe and the USL.

Busch's departure leaves the Fire with just the untested Dykstra, 24, and rookie Sean Johnson, a fourth-round draft pick, in goal. Busch had 10 shutouts in 30 MLS games last year, finishing with a 1.13 goals against average, leading the Fire (11-7-12) to the Eastern Conference championship game. Busch was the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2008 and played every minute of every MLS game for the Fire in 2009.

The charismatic and colorful Busch, 33, was popular with fans and the media, and he loved playing in Chicago.

"I'm having a very hard time not seeing myself in Toyota Park," Busch said.

Busch thanked Fire fans, especially those in Section 8, for their support, getting emotional at the thought.

"They've been fantastic the past few years," Busch said.

, calling Fire fans the best in MLS. "I'm going to miss not hearing them chant my name."

Busch said the preseason had gone very well, with first-year coach Carlos de los Cobos often complimenting him on his play and his leadership.

"The way I was playing, there wasn't a concern in my mind," he said.

That changed last Saturday when de los Cobos told him Dykstra would start this Saturday at New York, saying Dykstra has potential.

While Busch was disappointed by the decision, he pledged to support Dykstra and work to regain his job, adding he told de los Cobos he would not be disruptive.

Sunday night he got a text from technical director Frank Klopas asking to meet with Busch immediately. At that meeting Klopas told Busch he would be traded or released.

"We want to thank Jon for all his contributions to the club, both on and off the pitch," Klopas said in a statement the team released. "We wish him nothing but the very best moving forward."

Though Busch was one of the highest-paid players on the roster, "Salary did not come up once in any of our discussions," he said.

Busch said there were no conflicts with de los Cobos or new goalkeeper coach Aron Hyde that might have caused this change.

"I did everything to the 'T' he asked," Busch said of de los Cobos. "We got on very well."