Hopefully someone asks him the burning question on everyone's mind....What happened to Leathers?

John Furlong as "executive chair", whatever that means - and however short he sticks around for.

Hopefully the Whitecaps won't be adding a "torch raising" element to the pre-game ceremonies.

Sorry, it's hard to get too excited about what this is going to mean for the club. If he is able to secure a training facility and a soccer-specific stadium, then great. If he's able to negotiate with other MLS teams for a larger Reserve league schedule, or find the money to professionalise the womens team, then that's also good. He has shown he can organise large projects, but if he's just going to be a guy we hear ramble and make platitudes, then it's not of much importance to fans.

Sounds like he's committed to developing Canadians . . . hopefully we'll continue to see progress on that front at the youth level, male and female. Canadian sport doesn't need short term glamour events, it needs long term facilities (I'm disappointed that the Richmond speed skating oval was dismantled), long-term programmes, and slow, sustainable growth paid for by fans and sponsors. Hopefully Mr Furlong can deliver some of that in his tenure with the Caps.

This is pretty massive. Should be interesting to see the changes that are made. I would also expect this should really help with the training facility.

Good that he is a football fan.

John Furlong isn't exactly the "talking head" type. He's a doer of the highest order. He'll be a huge addition in terms of acquiring new sponsorship dollars. I think he'll also improve our club's ability to sell tickets and improve the Caps' visibility in the province. Putting on a successful Olympics is a massive achievement...lifting the Caps another level shouldn't be that hard for him.

He should also be pretty effective in dealing with governments on the training centre front.

New sponsorship dollars... huh.

Think about the children...

Good move by Caps. Very respected with local, provincial, and national business. Now when do I get my soccer ball!!!!

FootyMonster said:

Don't count your chickens, the Caps FO isn't exactly the shinning corporate example of "employee retention"

Perhaps...but I would say this is a bit different than before. John Furlong isn't really an "outsider" to the Caps organization and ownership. They've know each other for several years. I would think Furlong understands the club and its dynamics pretty well going in.

Lord_Bob said: In addition, Furlong hasn't got a reputation for jumping between jobs every five years. (I'm sure there'll be more turnover in the lower ranks after this hiring because he'll want some of his own people around, though.)

That said, an "Executive Chair" isn't likely to be someone involved in the club's day-to-day operations. I think he'll likely be more involved in the big picture stuff.

Lord_Bob said: In addition, Furlong hasn't got a reputation for jumping between jobs every five years. (I'm sure there'll be more turnover in the lower ranks after this hiring because he'll want some of his own people around, though.)

Olympic CEO, Head of riot review and Caps exec in two years? Reminds me of Stuart Ballantyne.

sigh

But it didn't solve the cities problems like homelessness and didn't result in world peace ... the olympics were a disaster ;)

bobloblaw17 said:

Lord_Bob said: In addition, Furlong hasn't got a reputation for jumping between jobs every five years. (I'm sure there'll be more turnover in the lower ranks after this hiring because he'll want some of his own people around, though.)

Olympic CEO, Head of riot review and Caps exec in two years? Reminds me of Stuart Ballantyne.

VANOC CEO and the riot review were time limited positions. If we still needed a VANOC CEO I'm sure he'd still be it.

This is a pleasent surprise, but I've become so cynical I have my doubts.

Having Furlong on board is a great move for the club. Not only is his track record and reputation amazing it is good to have someone who has suceeded in Vancouver, knows the city, and has worked well with all levels of government.

However I'm quite won over on the idea becuase of past failures. It does help that they were vauge on what Furlong hopes to accomplish.

When Paul Barber was hired he was promising a lot and I was expecting a lot of it to happen including getting the training facility built, which never happened.

While the Whitecaps have achieved a lot, it has not been as much as other MLS clubs. After promises of soccer specific stadiums, and training facilities went unfilled a lot of people of become jaded. In addition other clubs such as Toronto and philadelphia have achieved goals like that in building soccer facilities. In addition it feels that other MLS have made greater strides in embracing fan culture, getting major international friendlies, and establishing winning teams in a hurry.

I don't know if we have very high expectations, or are just jellous of other teams. The Whitecaps are very good, but it feels like that so much more can be done.

Hopefully Furlong is the ingredient that leads to a lot of dreams becoming reality.

They clearly hired Furlong to fire Tommy.

I can't believe people still are thinking a soccer specific stadium is possible. This is not happening for a LONG time, if ever. We have to accept BC Place and do the best with it that we can.

Lord_Bob said:

Neeskens1974 said: Isn't this the guy who refused to make the VANOC books public? Who presided over an Olympics that have cost the city's taxpayers tens of millions?

Well unimpressed.

As the entire purpose of an Olympic games is to convert vast amounts of taxpayer money into entertainment, and this was done, I'd call Furlong a success in that regard.

Actually, the purpose is to generate huge amounts of profits for corporations with no liabilities and let us suckers pay for it.

So yes, a huge success. But who knows - NO ONE CAN SEE THE BOOKS.

vancouversoccerman said: Most people would agree that our city and province is better off today because of the Olympics and John Furlong.

The province is more in debt ever partly because of the Olympics and the HST fiasco amongst others - inc. the huge grifter mentality prevalent in BC.

Furlong presided over a loss-making venture.

There is no other way around it.

We're not supposed to be blown away that the Olympics lost money, are we? The decision to burn our cash was governmental, not Furlong-al. Furlong and company were asked to put on the best show with the wheelbarrows full of our dough that they could.

Fynnsky said: I had some Furlongal once. The doctor gave me some cream and it cleared up right away.

Furlongal is best when it's sauteed and served on top of a steak.

Well, introducing the HST, at minimum, cost taxpayers the cost of a referendum on whether we should keep the HST.

All said...the HST (and government decisions around the Olympics) have nothing to do with John Furlong or how he ran VANOC.

That open letter has to be the most boring thing ever written. He seems to think he's in England rather than Canada, we dont care about Englands 1966 world cup win, is the fact he can remember the side proof that he's not suffering from dimentia yet?

He's not the most exciting bloke is he? what exactly is he going to be doing? leading? leading who to where? what will his day to day role be? what are his goals and objectives exactly? honestly these sorts of positions are a joke... i can never understand how people who assign tasks to other people make more money and are more respected than the people who actually do the task, anyone can assign tasks and then bask in the glory - go do a commercial contract and bring the club $250k 'today we announce the parnership with xyz company blah blah yours John Fulong. The poor minions that did all the work in getting the contract might get a small mention if they are lucky.

PBandG said: Chelsea's new kit not available till May 10th. Cannot wait.

http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/6331cc73gw1drxd6kgsonj.jpg

Furlong waved at me during the Sun Run once - he has my vote. Wait, are we voting?