by CHRISTIAN ARAOS

Shep Messing shocked viewers at halftime of the New York Red Bulls, Montreal Impact encounter citing”sources” that claimed, in part, that New York City FC head coach Jason Kreis was set to leave the expansion club for a move to the Seattle Sounders.

Kreis refuted Messing’s assertions after practice on Thursday afternoon, labeling the chatter as “unfounded.”

“I was watching the game last night and it caught me completely by surprise,” Kreis said. “I thought it was an absolutely ludicrous statement and unfounded. I have no knowledge of that information at all.”

Labeling Caleb Porter, Jason Kreis and Sigi Schmid as “very good coaches,” Messing claimed to speak to sources within Seattle, Portland and NYCFC that indicated Kreis could be a fit in Seattle, while adding “Sigi Schmid goes to NYCFC.” The deal would have Kreis leave NYCFC for Seattle for a reunion with Sounders president Garth Lagerwey this offseason. As for Porter, Messing said the young Timbers boss knows he could get “any college coaching job in the country,” signaling a possible departure from the pros.

Kreis eschewed the chatter, reiterating that he was happy with his role at NYCFC.

“I think that this is a tremendous challenge that we’ve embarked on and I’m not ready to leave it,” he said. “If it’s up to me — and maybe it won’t be up to me — I’m going to stay here and fight.”