Disgraced Kelly gets six-figure buyout from Blue

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 1:00 AM CST Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010

THE Mike Kelly saga is officially over for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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THE Mike Kelly saga is officially over for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/01/2010 (6109 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Mike Kelly saga is officially over for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Blue Bombers chairman of the board Ken Hildahl confirmed Tuesday the team had come to terms with the former coach and no further legal action from Kelly is expected.

"All I can say at this point — we’ve resolved the situation to everyone’s mutual satisfaction," said Hildahl.

JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Mike Kelly was fired by the Bombers after refusing to resign. — JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES Mike Kelly was fired by the Bombers after refusing to resign.

Hildahl would not disclose the terms of the arrangement, however a league source said Kelly would receive a lump sum payment of between $100,000 and $200,000.

The team fired Kelly on Dec. 17 with two years remaining on his contract.

The club believed they had cause to fire Kelly and therefore would not be on the hook for the remainder of the pact.

In the end, both sides believed the matter was better resolved out of court.

When asked for comment, Kelly’s reply was simply, "None."

Kelly was hired last off-season by then team CEO Lyle Bauer. The 51-year-old coach led the Bombers to a 7-11 season, missing the playoffs on the final weekend of the regular season.

When Bauer resigned early on Dec. 17, the board refused to confirm Kelly would be back as head coach.

Later that day, word came out that Kelly had been arrested following a domestic dispute just minutes after Bauer announced his resignation.

Fired

The board asked for Kelly’s resignation and when he refused, they fired him.

There were a number of incidents the board found unsettling throughout the season.

"ö Pacman Jones — Kelly and his personnel team attempted to bring the oft-arrested Jones to Canada causing a stir in the community.

"ö Spygate — A scout, who had ties to the Bombers and had done some work for them in the past, was discovered taking notes at a Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice.

"ö Napkins — Kelly trashed former GM Brendan Taman’s recruitment skills saying he must have kept his files on napkins.

Kelly’s agent Scott Casterline confirmed a buyout had been arranged.

"The matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of both parties," said Scott Casterline.