Canadian Premier League announce departure of President Paul Beirne at the end of the season

Toronto, ON — The Canadian Premier League announced today that league president Paul Beirne will depart at the end of the league’s inaugural season.

A press release from the league stated that Beirne would be pursuing a club opportunity. He was the league’s first ever hire and was integral in surveying the landscape of Canadian soccer before developing the league for launch.

“It has been an honour working with our amazing club owners and supporters across the country and our team at the CPL office to launch this league,” Beirne stated in the release. “I believe in the league and I look forward to continuing to watch it grow.”

Beirne was also the first ever employee of Toronto FC and helped the club build towards its heavily successful launch in 2007. His resume also includes time with the Ottawa Senators and English club Brighton & Hove Albion.

With that resume in mind, it's not particularly surprising that a club would try to lure him away from his current role. What will be interesting is to see how the league respond in terms of finding a replacement.