It's back to the future for the Renegades.
Club owners Bernie Glieberman and Bill Smith are looking to rehire former GM Eric Tillman to run the team's football operations, the Sun has learned.
Glieberman, who owns 51% of the club, and Smith met with CFL commissioner Tom Wright yesterday at the league's office in Toronto to discuss the future of the troubled team.
According to sources, Smith made it clear he would relinquish his share unless the club made Tillman an offer. Glieberman agreed they should try to get Tillman back.
If Tillman accepts, it would lead to a reassignment for pro football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg, the team's VP of football operations.
Tillman's return would also mean the departure of team consultant John Lisowski, the former Renegades CEO who ousted Tillman -- the team's GM for its first three years.
Along with Wright, the Renegades' owners met with two candidates who could take over as the team's administrative functions.
The top candidate is Washington Nationals VP of finance Bob Nicholson, but it's believed he wasn't involved in yesterday's meetings.
A possible scenario has Paul Robson and Al Ford, both of whom have operated CFL teams in the past, to run the club on an interim basis until the owners agree on a permanent boss. One thing is certain: Ex-CFL commissioner Jeff Giles isn't in the running.
"No one has approached me and I haven't even thought about approaching anybody about this," said Giles from his home in Toronto.
Another possibility would have existing staff members of the Renegades and junior hockey 67's melded into one unit, with 67's owner Jeff Hunt and president Pat Whalen running the show. Both teams have offices in the Coliseum Building at Lansdowne Park.
Hunt said he and Glieberman have discussed business recently in general terms, but doesn't believe a blend of operations would work. Hunt also added yesterday he's not interested in owning the Renegades.
"I think that one's out of my snack bracket," he said.
The search for an administrative boss will also lead to the departure of consultant Phil Kershaw, who has been running the team's administration in recent weeks.
With training camp less than 11 weeks away, Glieberman and Smith are under pressure to get the team's affairs in order quickly.
The team needs to hire a training staff and an equipment manager, even at this late stage. Most importantly, the site of training camp has yet to be determined.
"We're working with them to develop a plan," said Wright. "Bernie and Bill understand the sense of urgency in this."
Last week, Lonie Glieberman, the owner's son, relinquished his role as the team's administrative boss.
