“We arrived late to the party” – Danny Maciocia

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UPDATE DAY

MONTREAL – The general manager of the Alouettes, Danny Maciocia, knew at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning that he could hire footballers, three hours before the official opening of the free agent market in the Canadian Hockey League. football (LCF). 

A few weeks ago, the GM received an email indicating that he no longer had the right to make expenses. This prevented him from taking advantage of the seven-day trading window and matching offers that players like Trevor Harris or Eugene Lewis had received from other CFL teams.

“It was extremely frustrating, because I didn't feel like I had a chance. Could we have offered the same type of agreements? I do not know. But to be helpless and to see it unfold before your eyes was a great source of frustration,” Maciocia did not hide on Wednesday, at a press briefing.

“We managed to we got on with a lot of guys, but in some cases we got to the party late.”

A battle against time

Maciocia and his football operations staff prepared to watch the parade go by. The takeover of the club by the CFL changed the game, however, and the Alouettes were able to participate – narrowly – in the hunt for athletes who benefited from their autonomy.

“It was a battle against time Maciocia affirmed.

“We had a 12 hours where we just didn't stop working and that allowed us to bounce back.”

The GM and his team therefore contacted agents, negotiated, made counter-offers, convinced players and sold their salad in the space of a few hours, they who could have taken advantage of several days to complete this imposing task. The “Als” eventually hired or retained the services of eight footballers.

Proud

“Looking at the players we've brought in and the fact that we couldn't do anything until 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, I feel a great sense of pride,” Maciocia said. Our football operations staff worked so hard.”

“It was a matter of pride and I wanted to keep fighting. We had good news yesterday [Tuesday]. Football-wise, I think we were able to salvage some furniture.”

“There are a lot of things that have encouraged me since the CFL took over the organization.” , he added.

The takeover of the Alouettes by the circuit means the eventual arrival of a new owner. Maciocia does not intend to get involved in this process, but hopes to obtain some stability.

“It is very important to find people who want to commit themselves to our project and who have the Alouettes' interests at heart.”

“I hope that stability will be a priority and that there will be a desire to give this team back to the fans,” he said, adding that the Alouettes had an important role to play in the development of football in Quebec.