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Edmonton Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey hopes to wrap up his search for a new head coach and present him to the CFL team’s fans for Christmas.

Hervey said Thursday that he expects to make a decision “roughly within the next couple of weeks.”

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“There are many qualified candidates,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to hire our next football coach. It’s just a matter of going through the process, getting permission from the other teams to speak to some candidates.

“In no way do I feel rushed to make a decision,” he continued. “You want to make the right decision for our organization, for the players and our opportunity to move forward.”

Despite all the speculation about Ottawa Redblacks offensive co-ordinator (and former Eskimos quarterback/Hervey teammate) Jason Maas, Hervey said there isn’t a front-runner for the position.

“I have no allegiance to a friendship or anything like that,” he said. “Whoever we choose will be the right guy. If it ends up being the popular coach that everyone’s talking about, it’s because he’s the most qualified, not because we threw the ball around with each other. And if it’s someone else, it’s going to be because he’s the right choice.”