SAN JOSE -- In a deal that will give the Earthquakes more control over developing players, San Jose signed a two-year affiliation with United Soccer League expansion team Reno 1868 FC beginning in 2017, the club announced Tuesday.
The Quakes are ending their three-year affiliation with Republic FC because the Sacramento club is a separate operation trying to become a Major League Soccer expansion team in the near future.Earthquakes president Dave Kaval said Tuesday the idea to have their own minor-league affiliate came about in the offseason when discussing how to improve the team's depth. "We talked to Sacramento about it but they were going a different direction," Kaval said.