The search for the first general manager of the newly-reborn Ottawa CFL franchise appears to be narrowing.
According to the Ottawa Sun, owner Jeff Hunt has trimmed his list of GM candidates down to four.
Hunt confirmed to the Sun that the list includes Montreal Alouettes assistant GM Marcel Desjardins while sources believed the list to also include Hamilton Tiger-Cats assistant GM Joe Womack and former Tiger-Cats head coach Marcel Bellefeuille.
The fourth name on the list remains a mystery, but the report mentioned it is "a former CFL player who currently has a big job with a very successful team." However, former Ottawa Roughriders quarterback and current Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements was ruled out as a possibility.
Desjardins – who won Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010 with the Alouettes - had a second interview with Hunt this week and earned a glowing review from the Ottawa owner.
"I think he's a great guy and I think he's a great candidate," Hunt told The Sun. "I think he's got a tremendous resume, a wealth and diversity of experience. And he's a guy we're taking very seriously."
Hunt would not confirm to the Sun that Bellefeuille was among the candidates but the former Gees Gees head coach is familiar to the local scene, having coached the Gees Gees to a Vanier Cup victory in 2000.
"He's one of those unique guys who could be in consideration for GM or head coach," Hunt told the newspaper. "And he is an Ottawa guy, he's got that bilingual asset everyone believes would be nice."
Ottawa's CFL franchise is expected to begin play in the 2014 season.
Whichever candidate is chosen has the task of building a team ahead of them, including selecting import and non-import players through an expansion draft as well as orchestrating the team's first Canadian Draft later this year.
