Courtesy CFL.ca:

If the Alouettes hope to repatriate Charlie Taaffe as their next head coach, they might be in for a rude awakening.

Scott Mitchell, president of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, told The Gazette yesterday he won’t grant the Als permission to talk to Taaffe, should they be interested in having him replace Jim Popp. Montreal president Larry Smith announced on Tuesday Popp won’t return as coach, but will be permitted to remain as the team’s general manager next season.

“My reaction would be to say no. Charlie Taaffe is our head coach until we say otherwise,” Mitchell said.

Taaffe, who spent four years with the Als, including two seasons as head coach in 1999-2000, appears to be walking a narrow tightrope as the Ticats’ coach. With the recent firing of Marcel Desjardins, the Ticats are in the process of finding a new GM - one who would be expected to want to hire his own coach and not inherit Taaffe.

Hamilton finished with a 3-15 record under Taaffe.

The Ticats were interested in GM Brendan Taman, but were denied permission by Winnipeg to interview him. That leaves Toronto GM Adam Rita or Bob O’Billovich, British Columbia’s director of player personnel, as potential candidates.

But there was word last night things might have fallen through with Rita, who was prepared to hire Steve Buratto, the Argo-nauts’ offensive coordinator, as coach. O’Billovich, if he’s hired, might retain Taaffe or reach out for Dave Ritchie, the Lions’ defensive coordinator and a former head coach at Montreal and Winnipeg.

“There’s no reason for us to allow (the Als) to talk to Charlie Taaffe,” Mitchell said. “Conventional wisdom isn’t necessarily the truth.

“We have four GM candidates, and they all feel Charlie’s a good coach that was part of a poorly run organization. There aren’t many who would have been up against what Charlie was that would have had better results.”

Smith couldn’t be reached for comment yesterday, meaning he might say nothing until the organization unveils its next coach. And with the Als committed to paying Popp for the next three years, they might be forced to hire someone coaching at the pro level for the first time who works cheap.

On Tuesday, Smith denied Taaffe was on the organization’s list of 12 potential coaching candidates, since he’s under contract in Hamilton for two more seasons. Smith did express interest in former Calgary coach Tom Higgins, along with Jacques Chapdelaine, Edmonton ’s former offensive coordinator.

“Obviously Higgins is out there, but we haven’t spoken,” Smith said.

About Chapdelaine, he said: “We all know Jacques is looking for an opportunity. I’m sure he’s one of the guys we’ll look at.”

Despite this week’s announcement, a feeling exists that all isn’t well with Popp and he might not necessarily embrace the arrival of a new coach. Popp didn’t attend Smith’s news conference, and there are many throughout the league who maintain he won’t remain part of the organization by the time his contract expires.

Numerous sources have told The Gazette Popp will be kept on a short leash next season. Everything he does will be monitored by Smith and owner Robert Wetenhall. Although Smith works out of the team’s downtown office, he might be inclined to spend more time at Olympic Stadium for that very reason.

Note: Calgary receivers coach Chuck McMann, a former head coach at McGill and a former teammate of Smith’s, said he has no plans to pursue the opening with the Alouettes - but would give it more thought should Montreal inquire.