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As he gazed down at the sea of humanity below, Impact president Kevin Gilmore couldn’t help but feel the love being showered on a team that has missed the Major League Soccer playoffs the last three seasons.

Of course, the club has yet to play a meaningful game.

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“The undeniable passion we see in our fans. Some of them have been supporting this club from the very beginning, in all its renditions, going back 25 years,” Gilmore said over the din created by 2,000 rabid supporters — mostly season-ticket holders and sponsors — who packed a Griffintown nightclub Friday night for the Impact’s annual season kickoff.

“They see the direction we’re going in,” added Gilmore, on the job for a year. “Some like the sport. Others have a deep passion for it. And we’re just getting started.”

But for all the positive publicity generated from the recent hire of French superstar Thierry Henry as the Impact’s latest head coach, one couldn’t help but feel the cloud of uncertainty wafting through the air. A report surfaced this week of a potential return to Argentina involving veteran striker Ignacio Piatti — something, it seems, this club has repeatedly dealt with over the last several years.