The B.C. Lions hope a major front-office change can turn around the CFL clubB次元官网网址檚 sagging fortunes.
The Lions announced Thursday that former Edmonton Eskimos executive Ed Hervey will take over as the clubB次元官网网址檚 general manager from Wally Buono, who has held the post since 2003. Buono will coach a final season in 2018 to help with the transition and will continue as vice-president of football operations.
The announcement comes after disappointing season that saw the Lions finish last in the CFL West Division at 7-11 with Buono in a dual coach/GM role. But Hervey said BuonoB次元官网网址檚 continued involvement with the team was a selling point when considering the GM job.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think I would have made the commitment to come here if he wasnB次元官网网址檛 committed to being the head coach,B次元官网网址� Hervey said at his introductory press conference. B次元官网网址淣umber two, with Wally as vice-president he gives me someone to work with (and) bounce things off of. IB次元官网网址檓 still a young general manager, and his wealth of knowledge and experience B次元官网网址� who better to have around?B次元官网网址�
Hervey was general manager of the Edmonton Eskimos for three seasons from 2013 to 2016, building a Grey Cup-winning team in 2015. But he was criticized in Edmonton for restricting media access to Eskimos players, and when he was fired on April 7, 2017, Edmonton president Len Rhodes cited a B次元官网网址減hilosophy in the way we do businessB次元官网网址� as part of the reason.
Hervey denied obstructing media access while with Edmonton.
B次元官网网址淭he locker room has always been the coachB次元官网网址檚 decision and will always be the coachB次元官网网址檚 decision, and will be supported by the organization,B次元官网网址� Hervey said.
Buono is the CFLB次元官网网址檚 all-time leader with 273 coaching wins and had served as the Lions GM since 2003.
After an encouraging 5-2 start in 2017, injuries and inconsistent play plagued the Lions the rest of the way as they spiralled to a 2-9 finish and missed the CFL playoffs for the first time since 1996.
B次元官网网址淢y time with the Lions has been memorable to say the least, but right now my sole focus is working with Ed to build a championship team in 2018,B次元官网网址� Buono said in a statement. B次元官网网址漈his past season was tremendously frustrating for all of us, but todayB次元官网网址檚 announcement is the kind of change I believe our organization needs, our fans want to see and something we can build on moving forward.B次元官网网址�
The Canadian Press
