The Winnipeg Blue Bombers followed up a disappointing 2012 season with a 1-5 start to the 2013 CFL season, and it has cost GM Joe Mack and president/CEO Garth Buchko their jobs, as the two members of the front office were fired by the club. The firing of Mack was rumored on Thursday, but the dismissal of Buchko as well caught most by surprise. The moves were confirmed in a press conference Friday.
Stepping into the role of acting CEO is Wade Miller, a Winnipeg native and former Blue Bomber linebacker and Special Teams ace who spent 11 seasons on the field for the franchise.
“Since the age of 23, I’ve been rolling up my sleeves, getting it done and delivering results,” Miller said. “And yes, I even welcome the term ‘acting CEO,’ because I’m not afraid to prove myself and let my results speak for themselves.
“To our fans, I want you to know I’m committed to the heavy lifting required to put us on a new path and affect the kind of change that will lead us into a new direction. These aren’t empty words.”
Miller has his work cut out for him. The Bombers are 21-39 since Mack was given the role of General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations. The fans in Winnipeg have made their displeasure with Mack well known, and calls for his firing have come after nearly every loss this season.
The firing of Buchko who was named club President and CEO in January 2012 was slightly more unexpected.
Team Chairman Brock Bulbuck announced the changes and also said that he did not appreciate the manner in which Mack’s firing had been leaked to the media on Thursday.
“Not only was the unauthorized release of information extremely unfortunate, it was unethical and left Joe Mack in a position that we all find abhorrent,” Bulbuck said. “Though we may never determine whether, in fact, a board member leaked the information or who it was, you can count on the fact that we take the situation extremely seriously.
“If discovered we will take immediate corrective action to ensure that this type of behaviour is not tolerated in this organization.”
Since retiring from the CFL in 2006, Miller has begun a career in business. He is the founder and CEO of Pinnacle, a staffing solutions company. He also owns numerous Booster Juice franchises in Winnipeg and is in charge of the the physiotherapy division of Elite Performance, a sports-specific training and rehabilitation firm.
The Bombers are currently enjoying a bye week in the CFL, and play the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at home next Friday.
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