TFC boss takes over as Argos’ president

Now that the Toronto Argonauts are officially in the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment fold, the organization is making some leadership changes at the top of the CFL franchise.

Bill Manning, who serves as Toronto FC president, will add Argonauts president to his job title, MLSE said Friday. Michael Copeland, who spent two years as Argonauts president and CEO, was tabbed to join the MLSE leadership team along with Sara Moore, the Argonauts’ senior vice-president of business operations.

MLSE, which also owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors, AHL’s Marlies and Toronto FC, announced last month that it had an agreement in place to buy the Grey Cup champions. The front-office changes were announced Friday after the CFL’s board of governors recent approval of the MLSE acquisition.

“The Toronto Argonauts are an important and historic part of the sporting landscape in Toronto and across the country, and we appreciate the support of the CFL board of governors as the team officially becomes part of the MLSE family,” MLSE president and CEO Michael Friisdahl said in a release. “As we begin the process of incorporating the Argos into the organization, we are very pleased to name Bill Manning as president of the club in addition to his current responsibilities as president of Toronto FC.”

There was no immediate word on what the new job titles might be for Copeland and Moore. Phone and email messages left with both were not immediately returned.

“We are all excited about the opportunity to build on the success the Argos enjoyed last season as the team joins MLSE,” Manning said.