Pickens Reportedly Saying He's Signed With QPR.

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[Just to note that Chicago Fire is the club that ex-QPR's John Spencer recently turned down the opportunity of becoming Head Coach of.]

See also: Chicago Tribune Posters Talking about Pickens departure

Southtown Star - Nick Firchau - Pickens to play in England
Considered one of the most promising young players with the franchise just two years ago, goalkeeper Matt Pickens has officially left the Fire to pursue a professional career in England.
Pickens confirmed via e-mail Monday that he has come to an agreement with Queens Park Rangers, the West London-based club that is playing in England's second-tier Championship division.
Fire president John Guppy also confirmed Monday that Pickens and the Fire had not come to an agreement over the 25-year-old goalkeeper's contract, and that Pickens is leaving the team to play abroad next season.
"Obviously we're disappointed," Guppy said. "We wanted to see Matt back in a Fire uniform. I think he wanted to be back here, but the opportunity to play overseas presented itself, and he wanted to take that opportunity."
Pickens had spent the last month working out for teams in Europe, including with England's Norwich City and under the eye of a second-division German Bundesliga team rumored to have interest in the goalkeeper.
Pickens' contract with the Fire expired after the 2007 season, during which the Missouri native set a new single-season club record with 10 shutouts in just his first full season as the starter.
He earned slightly more than $32,000 for the 2007 season, nearly $26,000 less than veteran backup and presumed new starter Jon Busch. Pickens declined a new contract offer from the Fire before departing for Europe earlier in the year.
Guppy shot down the idea that the weight of the team's newest offer came into play, instead insisting that Pickens simply made the choice to play abroad instead of continuing his career domestically.
"I don't think it was ever a contract thing," Guppy said. "This was a case of Matt deciding if he wanted to continue in Major League Soccer or try an opportunity to play in Europe. We wish him the best of luck with his career."
The move ends Pickens' four-year career with the Fire. He was the team's second-round pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.
Pickens officially supplanted Zach Thornton as the Fire's starter midway through the 2006 season, and keyed the Fire's run to the U.S. Open Cup title and the Eastern Conference semifinals that year. He was named MLS Player of the Month in September 2006, and recently earned his second invite to train with the U.S. National Team.
Busch stands to be the Fire's starting goalkeeper when the season begins March 29. Busch, 31, joined the team as a free agent last season after starring for four seasons with the Columbus Crew. Second-year goalkeeper Nick Noble and Tulsa product Dominic Cervi, the Fire's selection with the 12th overall pick in last month's SuperDraft, are also on the roster.
"We feel pretty good about the goalkeepers we still have," Guppy said. Southtown Star

Soccer America/Ridge Hamlett - Chicago's Hamlett debuts with holes to fill
On the eve of its departure for Florida came news one more of Chicago's top 2007 performers wouldn't be around for 2008.
Goalkeeper Matt Pickens' European aspirations led him to train with Irish club Shelbourne four years ago, before he'd played an MLS game. Rather than sign a new deal with MLS after posting 10 shutouts in 27 matches during his first season as a starter, he elected to play out his contract. Trials in England with Norwich and Preston North End didn't pan out, but a visit to Queen's Park Rangers reportedly has led to a deal to start out as the London club's backup.
His departure leaves the experienced Jon Busch as the No. 1 keeper, second-year pro Nick Noble and first-round draft pick Dominic Cervi as the backups.
The keeper question adds to the duties of incoming head coach Denis Hamlett, which already included replacing midfield linchpin Chris Armas, shoring up the scoring, and handling the unique talents and personality of Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
"We had to do what's in the best interest of the team. I feel very confident in Jon Busch and Nick Noble," said Hamlett. "We watched Dominic play for two days, before he went to train with the [U.S.] U-23's. He has certain good starting points and he can hold his own."
Still, Hamlett and his staff have been quietly asking around their loose network of agents and representatives to see what might be out there. The amazingly athletic Busch has played only 11 games since tearing his right ACL in May 2005, after three-plus season as the Crew's starter. He's played 87 regular-season games and is one of the more zealous workers the league has ever seen.... Soccer America