Before he became the associate coach of the Ottawa Senators, Marc Crawford wanted to co-own the OHL franchise in his hometown.

Today, he’d just be happy to see the organization he now works for put its AHL team there.

Mind you, neither Crawford nor anybody else will specifically comment on the Senators’ plan to relocate their top farm club from Binghamton to Belleville until all the red tape is cleared, mostly because there’s still a chance it could get shot down. Never is there a sure thing when politicians are involved, and if this isn’t one the Senators do not want to alienate their loyal fans in upstate New York.

But just because rumours that Belleville city council would meet on Monday to discuss and possibly open its arms up to the B-Sens did not come to fruition doesn’t mean the issue is dead.

At least, the Senators hope not.

As much as they’ve appreciated being able to leave their footprint in Bingo, they would like their prospects closer to Ottawa for convenience purposes. A drive that’s about 90 minutes shorter and without a border crossing is much easier for callups and player development staff, especially on a snowy winter day.

Then there’s the cross-promotional opportunities for the Senators with fans in both Ottawa and Belleville.

The latter lost its Bulls after a 3 1/2 decade relationship last year, and Crawford, who was born and raised in Belleville and still has lots of friends and five siblings in the town of 50,000, says the departure has left a huge void.

“It’s very much a hockey town,” Guy Boucher’s right-hand man maintained after Senators development camp concluded Monday at Bell Sensplex. “Very educated fans. Real supportive. I mean, honestly, I can tell you this, that the old Bulls, without doing one ounce of marketing, without doing one ounce of promotion, they had outstanding support.

“I think there’s no question they have a fan base that is really super hungry right now. So hopefully something happens.”

While Crawford was spending the past four seasons coaching in Switzerland, attendance at Belleville’s Yardmen arena wasn’t great, hovering around the 2,500 mark. But that did not dissuade him and “two very good friends” from expressing their interest in buying the team from Uxbridge businessman Gord Simmonds.

Rather than take them up on their offer, Simmonds sold it to Burlington businessman Michael Andlauer, who turned the Bulls into the Bulldogs and moved them to Hamilton when the Montreal Canadiens decided to shift their AHL team to St. John’s, Nfl.

“He got a phenomenal offer, and didn’t have the gumption to come and say, ‘I took the money’,” said Crawford. “He told people that there wasn’t a group there ready to buy the club, which was total (b.s.). I know, because I was part of the group that was there to buy it.

“Hey, man up. Just man up. Man up and do it. He took a great deal. He did. The guy from Hamilton, they needed a team in their facility, and they paid an exorbitant amount for the team.

“(OHL commissioner Dave) Branch was part of it. He made the deal because the price of their franchises all across the league went up. That’s the business side.

“Having been on the inside of that, it was just not done well from that standpoint, especially for a team that had supported Major A hockey level at a high, high level. That was a well, well run franchise for a long time.”

Crawford remembers the strong “community involvement” when his dad Floyd played senior hockey for the Belleville Mohawks, as well as the Belleville McFarlands team (as a teammate of the legendary Red Berenson) that picked up a gold medal at the 1959 world championships by defeating the Soviet Union. That accomplishment is proudly acknowledged on a sign welcoming visitors to the city.

He also recalls the early days of his own playing career, when he was in Tier II hockey with the Belleville Bobcats going up against Wayne Gretzky and the Brantford Alexanders as well as “so many great players all across Ontario.”

“It was just phenomenal support, we had the best support in that entire league,” said Crawford. “And when they got to Major A, I thought that was an outstanding franchise. It was a shame that they lost it. It should have never happened.

“But, through that, who knows what may come.”

What should happen is a move for Ottawa’s AHL affiliate from Binghamton to Belleville, without having to change its “B-Sens” nickname.

Upgrades are needed at Yardmen Arena, where its rumoured workers have already started to paint the place in Senators’ colours.

“I think it’s a growing city,” said Crawford. “When I was a kid, the population was 35,000. Now (counting the surrounding area) they’ve got over 120,000, 130,000 to draw from. Because the arena is situated in such a good spot, it’s really accessible to everybody.”

What’s left to be seen is if politicians make it accessible to the Senators, and how quickly the AHL gives its stamp of approval.