Redblacks GM Burke asks fans for support, patience after coaching change

Losing is not something the Ottawa Redblacks want to be comfortable with.

When the Redblacks joined the CFL in 2014 they were determined to field a competitive product every single year and while they've had their struggles they refuse to become complacent.

Faced with its third-straight losing season the Redblacks decided a change was necessary and fired head coach Paul LaPolice Saturday morning.

"When you start losing it's something that creeps into your head," said Redblacks GM Shawn Burke. "Just like the momentum of winning can lead to more wins, the momentum of losing can go the opposite way and I think that happened to us a bit."

LaPolice was hired in 2019, but with the 2020 season cancelled by COVID-19 he didn't hit the field until 2021. He leaves with an overall record of 6-22-0.

Bob Dyce has been named interim head coach for the remaining four games of the season.

The next four weeks will be about showing what the Redblacks want to be moving forward and Burke asked fans for support and patience as they attempt to turn things around.

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Burke knows many might wonder why something wasn't done sooner or why bother at this point, with the playoffs seeming nothing more than wishful thinking, but he wanted to give LaPolice the best chance to prove he could turn things around.

"The reality is we went through some transition of a new team coming in, new management coming in and then some adversity," said Burke. "Every team is going to go through adversity, that happens in football, but it has to go into your decision making and giving someone a fair shot."

The Redblacks have been in a free fall since 2019 and are determined to put an end to this disappointing stretch of football.

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