John Barry Nusum has been released by the Columbus Crew just a week before the start of the new Major League Soccer season.

Nusum, picked up by the Ohio side in the MLS Superdraft in February, did not make the club's roster when it was announced on Friday.

The striker was among a number of players waived by the team to meet league-mandated limits, but whereas some have had their services dispensed with permanently, Nusum may yet find a way back in.

Crew general manager Chris Smith said Nusum might be taken on as a developmental player. This would mean he would not be allowed to play in MLS matches for the Crew, but would remain with the organisation and farmed out to the lower echelon A-League. He would also receive less than the league minimum salary.

If developmental status has remained the same as it was in the mid-1990s it would mean the Crew could make Nusum a full roster member at any time they chose.

Nusum was joined by Christof Lindenmayer and Scott Leber as the Crew reduced their playing staff to 18 seniors and three developmental players.

In announcing the cuts, Smith said he wanted to thank each one for their hard work during recent warm-up games.

"They contributed significantly to the competitive atmosphere at our training camps, pushing our veterans and making very strong cases for spots on our roster," said Smith. "In fact, in Nusum's case, while he explores other options, we are still engaged in discussions with him regarding the possibility of having him fill our final developmental slot."

The Crew have just returned from Guadalajara in Mexico where they have been holding a ten day training camp. Coach Greg Andrulis now has one week to fine-tune his squad before their opening match against Chicago in the Eastern Division on Saturday.

It remains to be seen whether Nusum will find the prospect of playing lower league soccer in the US appealing, should he be offered a developmental role at the Crew.

The former Wolves player tried out for Scottish Premier League side Livingston a few months ago, prior to heading to the US. While he was not offered anything permanent the door had been left open for him to go for further trials during the summer.