Clifford Starke has taken the lead in the pursuit to buy the Montreal Alouettes, according to Montreal Gazette reporter Herb Zurkowsky.

Tuesday #AlsMTL update: It's my understanding Clifford Starke and his group have become the front-runners to purchase the team – simply because they're willing absorb the enormous losses that have been accrued over the last several seasons. — Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) April 16, 2019

Former CFL commissioner and Als president Larry Smith backs Starke as a potential new owner of the franchise. Starke is close with Larry’s son Brad, who played receiver in the CFL for two seasons, and brought him on as a consultant.

Starke is a 35-year-old CEO of Hampstead Private Capital, which appears to be registered in Bermuda.