Edmonton Elks fire coach and general manager Chris Jones amid dismal start to season

Edmonton Elks caput coach and wide head Chris Jones has been fired arsenic nan shot squad continues to struggle to get connected nan scoreboard.

Geroy Simon will return complete arsenic interim wide manager, while violative co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson becomes nan team’s interim caput coach.

Jackson will clasp his violative play-calling duties.

The squad will clasp a news convention astatine 4 p.m. Monday to speak to nan dismissal. President and CEO Rick LeLacheur, on pinch Simon and Jackson, will reply questions.

Jones was hired by nan Elks successful December 2021 and nether his leadership, nan squad amassed a mixed grounds of 8-33 complete nan people of two-plus seasons: 2022 (4-14), 2023 (4-14) and 2024 (0-5).

That was Jones’ 2nd stint pinch nan team, aft antecedently serving arsenic caput coach from 2014 to 2015, which included a Grey Cup title successful 2015.

“Chris worked highly difficult to amended our shot squad complete nan past respective seasons and we convey him for that,” Elks president and CEO Rick LeLacheur said successful a statement.

“There’s nary mobility we’re a amended squad coming than we were nan erstwhile 2 seasons, but yet this is simply a results-based business and nan wins haven’t materialized.”

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The Elks proceed to struggle, dropping to 0-5 aft this past weekend’s 37-34 nonaccomplishment to nan Ottawa Redblacks. Edmonton has mislaid 4 consecutive games by precisely 3 points, including nan past 3 connected game-winning section goals arsenic clip expired.

“It’s ever difficult to make changes of this value during nan season, but we beryllium it to everyone wrong nan statement and to each our fans to clasp group accountable erstwhile we autumn short.

“There’s plentifulness of play remaining and we expect to spot Geroy and Jarious thief our players scope their afloat potential.”

The Elks’ adjacent crippled is connected Friday, erstwhile they recreation to nan nation’s superior to return connected nan RedBlacks. Game clip is 5 p.m. MT (TSN/RDS, 630 CHED, CFL+).

— More to come…

— pinch files from The Canadian Press