CFL commissioner Orridge on his way out

TORONTO Two years ago, the CFL trumpeted Jeffrey Orridge as the man who would “take the league to the next level.” Now, he is stepping down as commissioner over what he calls differing views on the future.

Orridge will remain on the job until June 30, after which the CFL will look to appoint its seventh commissioner since Michael Lysko took office Nov. 1, 2000.

No official reason was given for Orridge’s departure — which was agreed upon mutually — but in a statement Orridge said he and the league’s board of governors didn’t see eye-to-eye.

“It has been an honour to serve as CFL commissioner and help to prepare this historic league for the future by deepening our relationship with fans and sponsors, increasing its relevance with the next generation, and expanding our reach beyond Canada,” Orridge said. “While the board and I have differing views on the future of the league, we both believe passionately in this game, its players, its partners and its fans.”

Orridge was not available for interviews Wednesday, the league said. A Harvard Law School graduate, Orridge was hired amid much fanfare in March 2015 when he became the first black chief executive of a major North American sports league. With a varied background that included serving as executive director of sports and general manager of Olympics at CBC and stints with USA Basketball and Reebok International, the CFL was banking heavily on Orridge knowing how to boost its appeal to a younger audience.

He unveiled a number of initiatives, including a partnership with the digital network Whistle Sports and a revamped website that reportedly resulted in traffic doubling this year.

But it was also a steep learning curve. Orridge was born and raised in New York and initially didn’t appear to possess a deep understanding of the uniqueness of the CFL or its place in Canadian culture.

During his first year on the job, Orridge often struggled to find answers when asked about league matters by reporters. In 2015, Orridge came under fire for the CFL’s fallout with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport that led to the league not having drug testing for more than a year.

Ultimately, Orridge was able to secure a new policy with the CFL Players’ Association that was implemented into the existing collective-bargaining agreement.