Dayton Dynamo FC, Dayton's semi-professional soccer team, is preparing to make the jump to the professional leagues with the announcement of a new majority owner.

CNG Financial Corp. Vice President and Founder Jared Davis bought out David Satterwhite, who retains a minority interest in the team.

The Dynamo says in a release this makes the team "eligible to participate in a fully professional league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation." To that end, Dayton Dynamo FC "signed a letter of intent to participate in a professional league, but recent flux in the professional landscape in the United States has delayed a final decision in the immediate future."

"The ownership group is here to build a pro team," Davis says. "Soccer is trending in a positive direction in the United States, and Dayton is a great market. We are excited to do this for the community and the sport."

The club will take the 2018 season off and plans to begin play in 2019.

It's a big step for the man who created the team in 2009 as the Cincinnati Saints. Satterwhite has long had a vision for professional soccer in Southwest Ohio. With the advent of FC Cincinnati, in 2015 he moved the team to Dayton and rebranded at Dayton Dynamo FC.

"This is a very exciting time for soccer fans in the city of Dayton as we look to take the next step in Dayton Dynamo FC growth as a club," Satterwhite says, adding he looks forward to a new league.

"NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) has been a great proving ground. Unfortunately, a 3-month season is not viable from a business standpoint in the long term. We might, though, investigate creating an NPSL side as a development team in the future."

The team says the move means bringing on a full-time staff, salaries players, and looking at all options for suitable stadium. Dayton Dynamo FC most recently played at the newly built Roger Glass Stadium at Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School.