COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said Friday that he and Aggies athletic director Bill Byrne “have been engaged for several months in conversations about the future.”

Loftin said A&M intends to honor the remainder of Byrne’s contract – which runs through August 2013 – but Byrne’s role is to be determined over that span.

“We’ll honor the terms of that contract but what his role will be vis a vis another AD coming in … what can I say?” Loftin said following a conference realignment symposium in the Zone Club of Kyle Field. “At some point you have to make a transition.”

Last December following the firing of football coach Mike Sherman, an A&M insider said it was just a matter of time before Byrne would no longer serve as athletic director.

Loftin, who was instrumental in the Aggies’ impending move to the Southeastern Conference, said of Byrne’s “transition” from athletic director: “It will take place at the right month and right time. For both him and A&M. It’s something we’ll mutually agree on.”

An A&M official said Friday that now is the time for a “natural transition” at AD and that the mood is amicable between the parties.

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