INDIANAPOLIS — Citing the lack of an expected U.S. Open Cup bid for the league winner, Indy Saints FC is set to depart the Champions Soccer League USA (CSLUSA).

“We learned Thursday that the CSL doesn’t have an Open Cup bid,” said Indy Saints FC head coach Jason Brown. “We were disappointed to say the least. An Open Cup bid was our highest goal this season and what we were all working for.”

The team intends to play out its last match of the season today at South Bend FC, then pursue other opportunities.

“We’re going to finish up with South Bend, that’s the next thing on our list,” Brown added. “It’s the last game of our commitment with the CSL. Where we go from here — nothing is off the table.

“We’re evaluating league options for 2018.”

The first-year club joined the league under the impression that the CSLUSA champion would receive an automatic bid into next year’s USOC. Whether that was formalized in writing or an under-the-table handshake agreement is unclear, but finding out that there would be no USOC auto-bid was enough for the team to jump ship.

Indy Saints FC (4W-1D-2L, 13 points) currently sits in first place in the CSLUSA Region II table. Brown confirmed that the club has no plans to fold.

“We’re going to stick around as an organization,” he said. “Come August, we’re going to apply for the U.S. Open Cup entry-level rounds and fight like hell to get on the list.”

As for the CSLUSA, there had been recent conflict in the league office in addition to the lack of clarity regarding the USOC bid. The league announced the resignation of president Kevin Hickling on June 25, citing “personal concerns over differences in the direction of the league/company with other board members.”

Signs of league instability showed early this season, with Indy Saints FC’s scheduled opponent for its home opener changing on just a few days’ notice due to roster issues.

“We’ve been told that the team that we’re playing this weekend, Racine Force, has been unable to field a competitive team,” Indy Saints FC owner and general manager Chris McGrath told Soc Takes in June.

The league was forced to make an impromptu schedule change, sending South Bend FC to town for Indy’s inaugural home match on June 10.

The loss of one of the league’s more sizable markets in Indianapolis certainly won’t help increase its visibility. An email request for comment from the CSLUSA wasn’t returned.

Indy Saints FC will play its final match as a member of the CSLUSA tonight at 6 p.m. in South Bend.

You can follow Kevin on Twitter @KJboxing.

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