The Governors of the CFL are "changing their tune
dramatically and probably will not bother to hire a new
commissioner," according to Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE
& MAIL. Sources told York Friday that CFL COO Jeff Giles
"almost certainly will be sticking around as its leader."
York writes that several CFL Governors became "upset"
earlier this week when Giles publicly said he was resigning
as the league's COO. Giles, "credited throughout the CFL
for nursing the league through its near-death stages during
the last two season, was livid after learning" he was no
longer a candidate to succeed Larry Smith as commissioner.
Sources told York that Hamilton Tiger-Cats Owner David
Macdonald "began to aggressively lobby" for the idea of
keeping Giles, with the title of president or chief of
operations. The sources told York that Macdonald also
"persuaded" John Tory to change his mind about resigning as
the league's voluntary chair. Giles was unavailable for
comment, but York's sources close to him confirmed that
Macdonald had "talked him into withdrawing his resignation"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/28).
