Vice-president Paul Beirne leaves Toronto FC as MLSE rings in another change

TORONTO – Paul Beirne, Toronto FC’s vice-president of business operations, is leaving the MSL club.

“This Saturday’s TFC match will be my last with the club,” Beirne tweeted Thursday. “Thank you for 7 seasons of awesome moments! So proud to have been a part of it!”

Toronto wraps up its season Saturday against the visiting Montreal Impact.

The 5-17-11 team has missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year. A financial success out of the box in 2007, the underachieving franchise has seen crowds shrink this year.

The team has averaged 18,439 at BMO Field, which ranks 10th in the league.

Beirne’s departure is the latest in a series of major changes at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment since new president and CEO Tim Leiweke took over June 30. Leiweke, the man who brought David Beckham to MLS, has been particularly hands on with TFC since taking over.

Toronto FC president and Kevin Payne was fired last month, with Tim Bezbatchenko taking over as GM.

Leiweke, Bezbatchenko and manager Ryan Nelsen recently returned from a scouting trip to Europe in search of marquee talent.

MLSE revamped its senior management in July and COO Tom Anselmi stepped down last month