After avoiding questions from the Arkansas Times and other media and seeing a Facebook protest group called Take Me Out of the Ballpark swell to nearly 2,000 members, the Arkansas Travelers finally issued a media release commenting on the dismissal of general manager Pete Laven and assistant general manager David Kay on Nov. 12.
You’ll notice the release doesn’t mention Laven or Kay by name.
“The Executive Committee of the Travelers conducted an extensive review of the club’s operations and felt that a change in front office leadership was necessary to ensure the success of the ballclub in the long term,” said Team President Russ Meeks, who also serves on the club’s six-member Executive Committee. “We want our fans, sponsors and partners to know that the Travelers are in the process of conducting a nationwide search to find the right person to lead the Travelers into the future. There’s been great interest so far in the general manager position and I expect there will be greater interest at the Winter Meetings next week in Nashville. In the meantime we have the utmost faith in Paul Allen and his staff as they prepare for the 2013 season.”
The release (seen in full on the jump) notes that, as previously reported, Paul Allen is serving as interim general manager. It also announces a number of new hires: Leslie Baker as Director of Community Relations and Jeff Daley, Ben Harrington and Eric Schrader as Account Executives.