Edmonton Eskimos part ways with general manager Eric Tillman

The Edmonton Eskimos are parting ways with general manager Eric Tillman.

In a media release sent Saturday afternoon, Eskimo President and CEO Len Rhodes said Tillman will be relieved of his duties, effective immediately.

"I have spent considerable time looking at the future direction of this club and did not see Eric as a part of this team moving forward," Rhodes said in the release adding, "We will begin our search for a new general manager immediately and hope to have a successor in place by the end of the calendar year."

There has been plenty of speculation that Tillman wasn't as committed to the job as the team would have liked. One thing that has come up quite a bit is the fact that Tillman didn't live in Edmonton full time, his family didn't live here at all, and he spent a lot of time in Saskatchewan.

Rhodes spoke to the media Saturday afternoon and when asked why he fired Tillman, he maintained there was "no specific reason," just that it was what he thought was best for the club.

"It's just a general decision for the business, for the club, for the well being, what I believe is best for the Edmonton Eskimos, for our community, for our fans," Rhodes said adding, "Eric worked very hard for this club, used his best judgement at all times, in the interest that he thought were always best for the Edmonton Eskimos, and there's no single reason why I've made that decision. It's a general decision."

Tillman was a source of controversy among Eskimos fans and media after a major off-season trade in December 2011 that sent Ricky Ray to the Argos for fellow quarterback Steven Jyles, kicker Grant Shaw and a 2012 first round draft pick.

Saturday afternoon, Rhodes was asked if the Ricky Ray trade was a factor in his decision to fire Tillman, and this is what he had to say.

"To be completely honest, as you know, I approved the trade so, why would I relieve someone when I approved the trade to begin with?"

Rhodes didn't say whether or not he has someone in mind to fill the position left open by Tillman however, said he would give head coach Kavis Reed "high consideration as a candidate."

"One of the people that have impressed me the most actually is Kavis Reed, as a human being. What he does is just phenomenal. He goes to the Stollery once a week. He does things that you guys are not even aware of because he does it for the right reasons. I'm a big fan of Kavis and I want him involved with this team long term."

Rhodes went on to say that his preference would be that the GM lives here in Edmonton.

Edmonton (7-11) finished its regular season Friday with a third straight loss, 30-27 to the Calgary Stampeders. The Eskimos qualified for the post-season on a cross-over berth and will take on the Toronto Argonauts in East Division semifinal.

Tillman joined the Eskimos in September 2010. Since then, the club has had back-to-back playoff appearances. In his 12 years as general manager with Edmonton, Saskatchewan, BC, Toronto and Ottawa, Tillman has four Grey Cup appearances with three wins.

Watch Len Rhodes's media address in its entirety below:

With files from Dean Millard and The Canadian Press.