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“But I think anybody who’s been around me would understand I’ve always done things for the betterment of this football club.”

Austin cited his decision to step down as Ticats coach as an indication of that.

After an 0-8 start to the season, Austin appointed June Jones interim head coach. The Ticats were 6-4 with Jones on the sidelines.

“I made the decision for what I felt like was absolutely the best thing for this organization. Period,” he said. “It’s completely ludicrous to think I wouldn’t be 100 per cent behind the success of the organization, especially when it would have a direct impact on my coaching career.”

Austin, 54, is in his fifth season with Hamilton. He led the Ticats to consecutive Grey Cup appearances (2013-14) and four straight playoff berths before this year.

Austin has a 48-50 regular-season record as a CFL head coach with Hamilton and Saskatchewan (’07). He led the Riders to a Grey Cup title before becoming an assistant coach at Ole Miss, Austin’s alma mater.

The players cited in Sunday’s report in the Hamilton Spectator felt Jones’s return would be unlikely if Austin remained with the Ticats.

“We’re working through that (Jones’s potential return) over the next two, three, four weeks,” Austin said. “June has done an unbelievable job and did the job we felt he would do.

“He came into a very tough situation and did a great job. His performance and how he handled things speaks for itself.”

Hamilton owner Bob Young didn’t attend Monday’s news conference but took to social media to give Austin a vote of confidence.