Courtesy Regina Leader Post:

The Canadian Football League’s officiating department will have new leadership next season.

The league announced Thursday that George Black’s four-year term as the CFL’s director of officiating is over and it will immediately begin a search for a replacement.

“Continued progress in officiating will always be a mandate for the CFL,” Michael Copeland, the CFL’s chief operating officer, said Thursday in a statement.

“George provided our league with four years of dedicated service and helped build a very strong foundation. We are now entering a new phase of opportunity and development for CFL officiating. A fresh vision and new approach will help position us to fully realize our potential.”

Players, coaches and management have been critical of the league’s officiating over the past several years.

In September, the league issued an apology for what it considered incorrect calls in separate games in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

The Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders and several members of the Edmonton Eskimos were fined this past season for making disparaging remarks toward the league’s officiating.

Black will now focus his attention on amateur football and officiating development and rules development. He will also be the league’s representative with the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

“I have always had a great passion for the CFL and I always will,” said Black. “I am proud of what we accomplished during my tenure, including the implementation of instant replay. I understand and accept that the goal of continuous improvement is the key and that new leadership may be best suited to achieve that.”