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Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Bombers fire Kelly

Watch replay of Bomber announcement to fire Kelly

By: Gary Lawless and Aldo Santin

17/12/2009 2:50 PM | Comments: 83

WINNIPEG — Mike Kelly’s fiery reign as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach flamed out for good Thursday.

Kelly was fired at about 8 p.m. Thursday, just hours after being arrested and charged with assault following a domestic dispute in the morning at his home near Philadelphia.

"I’m here to announce on behalf of the board of directors that Mike Kelly has been relieved of his duties as head coach," said Bombers chairman Ken Hildahl, who earlier Thursday announced Lyle Bauer’s resignation as Bombers CEO. "It’s a tough decision but I’ve been saying repeatedly to you for the last six weeks we were reviewing the performance of the head coach and we came to the conclusion tonight that based on that assessment it was time to move on and find a new head coach."

Hildahl said the decision was not based on Kelly’s arrest.

"No. We recognize that an incident did take place but in the eyes of the law these are allegations and allegations only," said Hildahl.

Kelly’s job security was already in question and his arrest appears to have given the board of directors cause to fire him and void his contract. A board member told the Free Press on Thursday prior to hearing of Kelly’s arrest that the coach would not receive their endorsement and any decision about his employment would be left to a new CEO.

If the team can show cause, they will not be on the hook for the final two years of Kelly’s contract.

"We haven’t looked at (whether or not Kelly’s dismissal can be termed as just cause) but we’ll deal with those issues moving forward," Hildahl said.

Hildahl was asked if the club could afford having to pay Kelly out for the final two years of his contract, which would reportedly cost the club in the neighbourhood of $500,000.

"We haven’t even considered that," said Hildahl, who earlier in the day told the media that the club had more than $5 million in a rainy-day fund. "Can we afford it? Absolutely. Is it the right thing to do for the club and the fans of this city? I believe it is."

A CFL executive told the Free Press on Thursday most coaches have a code-of-conduct clause in their contract. Criminal charges such as the ones brought against Kelly would be considered a breach of contract, said the executive.

Hildahl was asked how Kelly took the news but said the team had only spoken to Kelly’s representatives.

The day started out ominously for Kelly as Bauer, his greatest champion, informed club staff via conference call that he was resigning. Kelly participated in the conference call but was detained by police just an hour later.

After the arrest, Kelly was taken to jail where he made bail. He is to appear in court on Dec. 23.

Kelly could not be reached after the firing, but the Free Press did reach him by telephone after the arrest.

"I can’t talk right now," said Kelly, before hanging up.

Hildahl said the team, now looking for a CEO and a head coach, hoped to begin that process immediately.

"It’s our intent as a board to move quickly. We’re meeting as a board on Saturday. We have a number of gaps in the organization but we hope to have a plan in place to fill these positions and move forward in a positive fashion," said Hildahl.

Hildahl said the board has no preference which job vacancy will be filled first.

"The person we put into both of these positions we want to be rock solid," said Hildahl. "Solid moral background and somebody that’s going to come in and repair some of the damage done to the brand of the football club. I want to say to the fans that these moves are made to try and re-establish the trust they should have in this football club."

Kelly was hired by the Bombers in December 2008 and led the team to a 7-11 record during a tumultuous 2009 season.

Kelly was passionate about his job but had trouble delegating and dealing with the media.

Kelly pushed Brendan Taman out of his player-personnel role and trashed him on his way out the door saying Taman did his job on napkins instead of keeping proper files.

Kelly then traded for unproven quarterback Stefan LeFors and subsequently released veteran Kevin Glenn. LeFors struggled early and an injury ended his season after just three games. The club the found itself with no answers at quarterback and had to sign Michael Bishop in an attempt to salvage the season.

Glenn, who signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats would eventually end the Bombers season. He kept the Bombers out of the playoffs by leading the Tiger-Cats to a win over the Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium in the final regular-season game.

Kelly had numerous run-ins with the media and fans, swearing on a post-game show and refusing to take calls from the public on his weekly radio program.

Kelly also butted heads with veteran players Derick Armstrong and Barrin Simpson and there were whispers in the locker room all season about the coach’s integrity.

Bauer, who hired Kelly and defended him throughout the season, could no longer protect the coach.

"I have no idea what’s going on there. It’s unfortunate and the timing is awful," said Bauer. "I feel sorry for him in a way because he just can’t get a break. But domestic is domestic... Whatever that personal situation is it will be his personal situation to deal with. I’m not aware of any of the details."

Bridgeport Police Sgt. John Cane said when officers arrived at Kelly’s home, they found a woman they later learned to be his former girlfriend outside on the front steps.

"When the officers got there, she (the victim) said that Mike Kelly had hit her," Cane said. "She showed us her neck, which was red, she had a small cut on her knuckle, and she had a small abrasion or some type of cut on her lip."

Cane said that Kelly told police that the woman had come to his house to pick up her personal belongings.

"She confronted him in an upstairs bedroom and an argument broke out and it turned physical," Cane said of the explanation offered by Kelly. "He grabbed her, she ended up hitting him in the face, according to him, and he had some evidence of being hit there too, and he grabbed her and pushed her to get her out of the house."

Cane said the woman was not charged and is not facing any charges.

Cane said a criminal records check revealed that Kelly had no previous convictions.

An individual familiar with Kelly and Andrea Peterson, said the two had been a couple for about 4 1/2 hears, adding they formally broke up about two weeks ago.

— with files from Aldo Santin

and Jason Bell

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

History

Updated on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 4:42 PM CST:
Adds coach likely to be fired

Updated on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 4:55 PM CST:
Adds quotes from police and someone who knows the alleged victim

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83 Comments

Posted by: KaosAgent

December 18, 2009 at 4:28 PM

I beg to differ with those who say we're starting from scratch. Our players have loads of upside and we could be contenders if we can just find that holy grail of a better-than-average QB. The GM & coach that we find will be OK or maybe even good, but dang it we need that QB more than anything!

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Posted by: Gordon Jackson

December 18, 2009 at 12:14 PM

A few thoughtful articles but far too much hysteria driven by emotion only, which is why re the Mike Kelly arrest we have innocent until proven guilty, unbiased judges, juries and (one hopes) dispassionate BODs focussed on the facts and not irrational spleen venters. Mike Kelly, like him or not IS innocent until proven guilty - in a court of law. And those with an ax to grind about the former coach are in no position to judge (a) because they don't know all of the actual facts in the case and (b) don't want to.

However, the WBBs problems are greater than former GM Bauer or Kelly, problematic tho both may have been. No, they start with a board itself not doing the due diligence it should have been doing when hiring coaches like Reinbold, Berry and Kelly, incompetence that could still cost very dearly if Kelly is either not charged with anything or is found innocent after being charged and tried. Yes, good people may sit on the WBB board, but given the recent past are they the right people for now?

To conclude, a very storied franchise is now labouring without a CFL calibre GM, coach or assistants (all coaches bring in their own co-workers) while also awaiting a financially shaky messiah to buy the club, build them (with generous taxpayer assistance) a new state-of-the-art facility while concurrently establishing a stable front office coupled with a grey cup winning product that morally and ethically reflects the best of the community it represents.

Good luck!

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Posted by: BIG0

December 18, 2009 at 6:41 AM

Well, as all the rest have said in one way or another, here we go again.what will happen to our quarterbacks,defense,offense. Some things which are few I believe were good for MK is that he needed a full season to understand his role as head coach. Now we will see who comes in thru the revoving door at Maroons road. I heard names of Matt Dunigan,Milt,Dave Ritchie, Tanman all coming back in some kind of capacity,this would be a golden opportunity.

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Posted by: TB

December 18, 2009 at 6:24 AM

Why was the woman not charged as well? She assaulted him by her own admission, yet he is the only person charged.

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Posted by: fedup

December 18, 2009 at 6:12 AM

YAHOO!!!!!

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Posted by: marshal

December 18, 2009 at 1:28 AM

Got them both out in less than 12 hours. What a great day!!

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Posted by: Woe is you

December 18, 2009 at 1:00 AM

i can't believe i wasted my time reading all of your comments. everyone thinks they know more than the other person. we will never know the truth or all the facts about bauer resigning and why kelly got fired. fans that boycotted because of kelly better show their support and buy tickets...lots of them. i have been a bomber fan during the great and not so great years. win or lose hit the booze. bombers 2010 grey cup!

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Posted by: louie

December 18, 2009 at 12:42 AM

Thank you, Bomber board. I will now resume attending games and spending money on your product. For the first time in 25 years, I did not attend a single game or spend a single dollar on your organization in 2009 solely because of Mike Kelly. Money talks and bulls*** walks. Keep walkin' Mike...