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If things go the way he hopes, Clifford Starke will own the Alouettes before the Canadian Football League season kicks off in June.

The chairman of Hampstead Private Capital put out a statement on Thursday confirming his interest in purchasing the team, which has been owned by American businessman Robert Wetenhall since 1997. There has been speculation the league has assumed control of the team and is looking for a new owner, something the CFL has not confirmed.

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The question Montreal football fans have now is: Who is Clifford Starke?

The 35-year-old grew up in Montreal as a huge Alouettes fan and was very close with the family of Larry Smith, the former CFL commissioner and Alouettes president who is now a member of the Senate of Canada. Smith’s son, Brad, and Starke have been best friends since Grade 8 at Lower Canada College and were later roommates at Queen’s University. Brad Smith is now working as a consultant with Starke’s potential ownership group.