They tried as best they could to put a brave face on it, but Kevin Gilmore and Olivier Renard couldn't disguise the fact that losing Thierry Henry is a huge blow to their club’s professional and marketing ambitions.
There is of course a human element to be considered and it’s clear when the former Arsenal, Barcelona and France great eventually found himself torn between professional and family obligations, there could be only one winner.
As a disappointed Kevin Gilmore acknowledged, “I always say when you take decisions based on family they are good decisions.”
The President also spoke of the human challenges a season of lengthy re-locations away from Montreal had on the organization and how the prospect of beginning another year in the same way threatened to take its toll on many people, including, “Thierry and his children and he’s had to make a difficult decision to stay in London, and give up his position as head coach of the club, to be with his family.