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When Rick Campbell spoke to Mark Goudie Saturday, he told The Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group CEO/president he wanted to step aside as the Ottawa Redblacks head coach.

Goudie asked the coach to take 24 hours, think about it — not to get caught up in the emotions of a 42-32 home-field loss to the Montreal Alouettes, the Redblacks’ 15th loss of the season — a disaster from Week 3 on, when the Redblacks sunk deep into the quicksand.

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On Sunday, Campbell, who had been the Redblacks’ coach since Day 1 in Season 1 (2014) and helped them get to three Grey Cups (winning in 2016), told Goudie he was done, it was over. Call it irreconcilable differences — with Redblacks GM Marcel Desjardins. There were many layers to this story, a gradual buildup of discontent.

“The conversation I had with Rick, I had two,” said Goudie at a Monday morning press conference. “One was where he let his views be known — I think he’s been carrying this around for awhile. The request I had of Rick was that he take 24 hours to make sure this wasn’t an emotional decision coming out of a difficult year and Friday’s game. We talked again after 24 hours and I think he was pretty comfortable with where he was. Credit to him, he came up front and didn’t feel he was going to in a position where he could give the Redblacks what they deserve next year.”