New twists in the Montreal Alouettes case. The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced on Tuesday morning that the team was placed under trusteeship. The league also confirmed that former team president Mario Cecchini will return to his role, but on an interim basis, two months after he was fired by the previous owners.
“Cecchini will manage the day-to-day operations of the affairs of the organization under the direction and supervision of the league office,” the CFL statement read.
Danny Maciocia retains his position as general manager, it has been said.
This is the second time in nearly four years that the league has had to place the Alouettes under guardianship. She had done so on May 31, 2019, after the departure of Robert and Andrew Wetenhall.
The CFL had sold the Birds to Ontario businessmen Sid Spiegel and Gary Stern, Spiegel’s son-in-law, in January 2020. Spiegel, however, died in July 2021, meaning he never got to see his club in action as the league canceled the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Spiegel’s estate still owned 75% of the shares in the team, Stern owned the rest.
The Ambrosie Circuit added that an accelerated and formal sale process is being led by its partner Park Lane, a specialist sports investment bank and leading advisory firm whose clients include major league sports properties from across the the planet.
“Several groups have already expressed a strong interest in buying the Alouettes, including groups whose members live or work in Montreal or in the province of Quebec,” said the CFL.
Also in a press release, the League stated that “The Canadian Football League Players Association (AJLCF) will place the Montreal football club under trusteeship immediately, since the former group of owners has ceded control. Day-to-day club operations will resume, including with free agents and preparations for the 2023 CFL season.
“The league will fund the day-to-day operations of the team and ensure that its financial obligations are met,” added the union. With the player market opening on Tuesday, the Alouettes will be able to initial expectations with various free agents.
The return of Cecchini
On December 22, Cecchini confirmed that his contract as president was not going to be renewed. This announcement had raised eyebrows more than one in the Quebec sports ecosystem. Cecchini is an esteemed man in the industry and major changes had taken place since he took office in 2020.
The latter revealed to The Press, a few weeks after his dismissal: “I was taken out of the game in the second quarter – when we were leading 10-7. I don’t quite understand why. I’ll be the first to acknowledge that there was still a long way to go, but 2022 was our first real year of operations. [depuis la COVID-19]. We all agreed that our plan would last several years. But this plan, it is not done by shouting scissors. »
Now that the franchise is under the CFL, Cecchini can return to the organization, without having the Stern family in the paws. The president had argued that the Alouettes’ minority owner, Gary Stern, was in more of a hurry than him.
The Alouettes’ general manager, Danny Maciocia, will no doubt be delighted with the return of his good friend to the fold of the team.
“Everyone knows my feelings for Mario,” he said, briefly, during the presentation of new head coach Jason Maas, shortly before the holiday season.
Pass the torch
On his Twitter account, former Alouettes owner Gary Stern wished the organization the best of luck.
“I wish the best to Mario for the rest of things, he wrote. The Alouettes are a great team. »
He also responded to his former quarterback Vernon Adams Jr, as the latter thanked Stern for being “a fantastic human being. »
“It helps me in a very difficult moment, published the former owner. I love the CFL, the Alouettes, the fans, the players and the coaches. I wish the best to the Alouettes and the CFL. »
With The Canadian Press