Courtesy Toronto Sun:

WINNIPEG — It wasn’t long ago that Brendan Taman’s name would come up whenever a CFL general manager’s job became available.

Now that the Blue Bomber GM’s team has a winning record again, it should probably come as no surprise that a published report out of Hamilton calls him a candidate for the Tiger-Cats’ vacant front- office post.

“It’s good that you’re mentioning my name because if it was the last two years it wouldn’t have been mentioned,” cracked Taman.

“So I’m happy with that.”

But Taman, who has one year left on his Winnipeg contract, says he’s not even considering the possibility of a move, not with the East semi-final against the Montreal Alouettes looming.

“That is totally out of my realm of thinking at this stage,” he said yesterday. “My focus is winning on Sunday.”

Ticats president Scott Mitchell says he wants to hire someone with CFL experience to replace Marcel Desjardins, whose firing was made official on Monday, two days after the team ended its wretched 3-15 season with a win.

Mitchell wants to fill the post by the end of the month, which means he may have to seek permission from other teams to talk with executives still under contract.

Bombers president Lyle Bauer says the Ticats haven’t contacted him about Taman, yet.

And if they do?

“I’d probably talk to Brendan,” Bauer said.

“See how he felt as I have anytime that anybody’s called about him. Brendan’s name always comes up. And he hasn’t left, yet. And he’s had an opportunity to leave.”

With Winnipeg since 1999, Taman helped build the team that reached, and lost, the Grey Cup game in 2001.

His teams missed the playoffs in ‘99, ‘04 and ‘05, compiling a record of 81-79-2 over nine seasons.

Four prominent player personnel directors likely are to be bandied about in the coming weeks — Greg Mohns (Argos), Bob O’Billovich (Lions), Joe Womack (Roughriders) and Paul Jones (Edmonton).

Mohns cut his teeth in the CFL with the Ticats, while O’Billovich makes his home in southern Ontario.