Unlike Blue Jays, Toronto FC GM says he is fine with new team president

TORONTO – Unlike Alex Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays, Toronto FC general manager Tom Bezbatchenko appears to have no issue working with his new president.

Anthopoulos parted ways with the Jays on the eve of new president Mark Shapiro’s arrival, saying it was not the “right fit.”

Bezbatchenko now finds himself working with newly appointed president Bill Manning, a former Real Salt Lake executive. The MLS team had been without a president since Kevin Payne was fired as president and GM in September 2013.

Bezbatchenko, speaking at the team’s season wrapup Tuesday, said Manning will be able to take business and league responsibilities off his plate.

“What I would prefer to be doing is more of the soccer operations,” the GM said.

Manning is on the same page.

“I said ‘Look I just want you to focus on the soccer team,” he said. “I want you to focus on our scouting. I want you to focus on our analytics, I want you to focus on our player personnel,’ “

Manning said he also likes his coach to be involved in such discussions.

“Look what I can add is experience,” he said. “I have 20-plus years of experience in sports and certainly I’m going to be involved in the soccer side, but I’m also going to be involved in the business side, the stadium side and overseeing the whole TFC brand essentially and our operation.”