FC Edmonton General Manager Mel Kowalchuk Resigns
Mel Kowalchuk
FC Edmonton announced late on Friday that GM Mel Kowalchuk has resigned his position with the club. The press release stated that he resigned his position with the team in order to pursue other opportunities. The GM position won’t be filled immediately and owner Tom Fath will take over the role until a replacement is found.
According to one source Kowalchuk resigned his position Friday morning just before the club left for preseason training in Casa Grande, Arizona at Grande Sports World.
“The decision, obviously, was not an easy one,” Kowalchuk said in the FC Edmonton press statement. “From belief in the organization, where it’s going under the ownership of Tom and Dave Fath and the current staff, success is definitely on the horizon.”
While the press release praised Kowalchuk for his work in helping to start the team, the timing of the announcement cannot be seen as encouraging. Last December head coach Dwight Lodeweges and his assistant, Hans Schrijver, used clauses in their contracts to leave FC Edmonton to take coaching positions for second division Japanese team, JEF United. Dutch coach Harry Sinkgraven was brought in to fill the gap. With the latest announcement the team has lost both their high profile coaches and their general manager in the course of just over 3 months, and 5 weeks before their inaugural NASL season kickoff.
Kowalchuk has worked in both the US and Canada with minor league baseball and soccer teams. He has been involved with pro sports for nearly 28 years, working as the president and GM of the CSL’s Edmonton Brickmen and NPSL Edmonton Drillers. He served as CSL president while operating the Brickmen. He also worked for the Chicago Power indoor soccer team. He will continue to serve as president of the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League, a position he has held concurrently while working as GM of FC Edmonton.
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I am (temporarily) speechless…
no big deal.
It sucks because I doubt they will give me the job.
WSW: “no big deal.”
God, you’re an idiot.
This can’t be good for the team from Edmonton. If I recall things correctly, their coach of one year resigned several months ago. So as things stand, they are on their second head coach and looking for a second GM…and they have yet to play one match in the NASL. Hmmm….
Beyond that, Tom Fath himself will be the acting GM for the period. Sounds like Kowalchuk either saw that he would not get more money for his expertise, or did not want to be the inevitable scapegoat for the huge loss of money in the first season.
Fath is a good asphalt businessman, but the skill set needed at the GM level is a lot different, especially on the revenue side of the sporting team business.
Hey Brian would ever think about acting as a GM?
The perk you ask?
You get to live in mutha$#&@ing Canada!
W00t!
Another blow to the NASL. Could things get more difficult for them? I hate to see this happen so late in the pre-season. I hope Edmonton can ride this out.
Ring, Ring, Ring…Chicken Little says the sky is falling. I have to go pack my things because the end is near. Everyone should take cover.
Ok…so not good to have your GM resign after your coaches run off to Japan but let’s not start the NASL is in trouble stuff.
Ride it out? Really? Edmonton had to meet the requirements for ownership in order for the NASL to gain sanctioning for this year. It’s not like they’re trying to fund a theme park with a soccer team here.
Nothing to see here. Move along.
They will find another GM! It is no biggie!!! What until the end of the season to start the wailing and gnashing of teeth save it for the 2012 sanctioning.
@Kenn, no, he’s entirely accurate. In fact, had to be done. This is not a real departure by choice, it’s an executive “resignation”.
The timing of the announcement cannot be seen as encouraging. I hate to see this happen so late in the pre-season. It’s not like they’re trying to fund a theme park with a soccer team here. Thanks!