News and Reaction: Canadian Premier League makes first hire

The proposed Canadian Premier League professional soccer league appears to have taken a large stride towards becoming reality.

News broke this week of the hiring of a project manager for the Canadian Premier League (CPL). Paul Beirne is the league’s first official hire.

Beirne brings with him a deep wealth of sports and soccer business experience, having worked with Toronto FC, Ottawa Senators and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Speaking with the Hamilton Spectator, Beirne said that he expects the league to consist of “six to 10 teams across the country.” Adding that he believes most clubs will be available for the projected 2018 kickoff.

Canadian soccer fans and pundits have discussed the likelihood of clubs being built in Hamilton, Regina, Calgary, Victoria and Winnipeg. These same discussions have also hinted at the Ottawa Fury and Edmonton FC moving over from their current leagues once the CPL kicked off.

Up until now, much of what is actually known about the proposed nation-wide league had been watered down by unconfirmed rumours and hopeful declarations.

But this week’s revelation, that the league has hired a project manager, has brought a new sense of hope and expectation to soccer fans who have long yearned for a Canadian national soccer league.

Twitter reaction to the news of the league’s hiring of Paul Beirne: