Hamilton Sports Group Managing Partner & CEO, Scott Mitchell issued a statement on Wednesday following the Canadian Premier League’s announcement that Costa Smyrniotis will join the CPL office as Executive Vice President, Soccer.

“On behalf of Bob Young and myself, our entire ownership group and everybody associated with Forge FC we want to sincerely thank Costa for all of his phenomenal contributions to the club. Costa has been the architect behind Forge FC and leaves a legacy that speaks for itself with three CPL titles, and appearances in all four CPL Championship matches. Beyond league play, Forge FC’s success within CONCACAF has been an inspirational beacon of light and helped put both Forge FC and the CPL on the map internationally. While we will miss Costa tremendously, the soccer culture he has established within Hamilton and Forge FC will endure.

With great success comes great opportunity and with Costa establishing himself as one of the brightest minds in Canadian soccer, we are thrilled that he will continue to work within the CPL ecosystem as the top football executive at the CPL office with our Commissioner Mark Noonan. His role as Executive Vice President, Soccer, within the CPL is crucial in the development and growth of our league and there’s no doubt he will achieve similar success in his new leadership role”.