Toronto FC yesterday named former Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning to the same position, in which he will oversee "all TFC team and business operations," according to Neil Davidson of the CP. Manning is a "two-time winner" of MLS' Exec of the Year award, and joins a TFC club that "has been without a president since firing Kevin Payne, who doubled as GM," in September '13. Tim Bezbatchenko is TFC's current GM. The move leaves a president in charge at each of MLSE's "prized assets" -- Brendan Shanahan with the Leafs, Masai Ujiri with the Raptors and now Manning with TFC (CP, 10/12). In Toronto, Laura Armstrong notes Manning "wanted to stay" in MLS and "verbally agreed to the job in mid-September." Manning said, "I clearly saw that the board wants this franchise to be successful and hopefully I’m the right guy to come in and lead those efforts to betterment and really putting together a model franchise" (TORONTO STAR, 10/13). Also in Toronto, Kurtis Larson notes Manning's appointment brings "much-needed stability" to the team. Manning: "What TFC needs is some consistency and stability. ... From an outsider's perspective -- and I remember telling this to the (MLSE) board -- for me, TFC has always been in constant flux." Larson reports multiple MLS clubs, including the Impact, "were in the running" to land Manning's services. Manning: “I took 10 flights in three weeks. I really was all over the place. I met with some folks outside of soccer as well.” Manning has "a plethora" of items to tend to, including "sub-par TV numbers, filling 30,000 seats and stadium renovations" (TORONTO SUN, 10/13).
