When a Traffic Sports-led effort by owners to buy the United Soccer Leagues failed during the summer, it was clear Miami FC's USL-1 days were numbered.

Tuesday, that number reached zero -- although the team itself will live on.

The Blues have announced that they will be part of an seven-team break-off league that will have second-division status in the United States and first-division billing in Canada.

The other participating clubs: the 2009 USL-1 champion Montreal Impact, the Carolina Railhawks, the Minnesota Thunder, the Vancouver Whitecaps and franchises in Atlanta and St. Louis, which did not have teams in USL-1 last year.

For the Blues, it provides assurance that professional soccer will continue in South Florida -- for the 2010 season, at least.

Small crowds, poor performance on the field and an impatient ownership group nearly cost the city the franchise before the 2009 season, and prospects for next year looked bleak after Nu-Rock Soccer Holdings bought USL in August.

``When your league is owned by someone else, you aren't incentivized to invest in or be loyal to your league,'' said team president Aaron Davidson. ``That's precisely why our league is so relatively unknown and has so much turnover in teams.

``With this decision, we gain control of our own destiny and can finally structure and operate our league in a manner which truly positions us for growth and success.''

The move strips USL-1 of some of its traditional powerhouses, although it is not clear how the new league, which has yet to be named, will look after 2010.

Vancouver will make the jump to Major League Soccer in 2011, and the Impact have an eye on MLS, as well.

But for now, Montreal president Joey Saputo will serve as chairman of the new league's board of governors.

``This is not your typical new league,'' Saputo said. ``Most of our teams have existed for years. We have united some of the best owners, teams and markets around a new vision for a professional soccer league in North America.

``We look forward to elevating our teams and league in order to give more opportunities to players, coaches, media and sponsors, entertain our fans and play our role in helping soccer truly recognize its potential in the United States and Canada,'' he added.

A phone call to USL executive Tim Holt was not immediately returned.

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