The Columbus Crew is poised for a transformative period as the club prepares to undergo a series of significant front office changes. While the Black & Gold is keen on adding to its recent success and aiming for future triumphs, it’s starting by reshuffling at the top. Moves like this are poised to enhance both on-field performances and off-field operations.

For the Crew, it’s starting with the general manager.

It was announced Thursday by the Columbus Dispatch that Tim Bezbatchenko had parted ways with the Crew to join Black Knight Football, who oversees AFC Bournemouth of the English Premier League.

Bezbatchenko, who joined the Crew in 2019, played a pivotal part in bringing in players like Lucas Zelarayan and current striker Cucho Hernandez. He also helped lead the organization to their 2020 MLS Cup and 2023 MLS Cup triumphs. Bezbatchenko also saw the Club reach the Concacaf Champions Cup final for the first time in Club history, ultimately losing 3-0 to CF Pachuca last weekend.

“He did a tremendous job,” Dee Haslam of Haslam Sports Group exclaimed. “Two MLS Cups, just his tenure here was an amazing accomplishment. And the fact that he’s going to the Premier League is another compliment to our organization and MLS.”

“We’re really excited for him and wishing him and his entire family the best of luck and we’ll be cheering for him.”

Replacing Bezbatchenko, is Issa Tall.

“I met him as a colleague,” said Tall in his introductory press conference Friday afternoon. “He became my boss, and now he is and will forever be my mentor and a friend. And I wish him the very best.”

Issa Tall joined the Club in 2019 with Bezbatchenko as the Assistant General Manager of Player Personnel and Strategy.

“We’re really fired up to work with Issa,” said Jimmy Haslam. “I thought it would work the reverse; Tim would stay here and Issa would get a job somewhere else because he was a finalist last year. We’re really excited to work with him. He’s been crucial in our success since we got here.”

With Tall joining, the first order of business under his tenure was dismissing Columbus Crew 2 General Manager Corey Wray.

“First of all, I want to thank Corey for what he’s done for the Club. At the time, his role was needed just because the structure of the club, we had no Academy, and he did a great job for that,” said Tall.

“What reassures me, and that’s why I’m hopeful and very enthusiastic for the future of the club in that environment, is that I’m 100 percent aligned with Wilfried on how things should be structured. Now, you look at our second team, and it’s players from the Academy. The hope is to have even more of that. The hope is to have players that are maybe a little bit aggressive at 17, 16, or 15 [years old] coming through the Academy. We’re still discussing the structure. We have a plan in place. Honestly, I think we’re on the right track to do great things.”

Corey Wray helped lead Columbus Crew 2 to the inaugural MLS Next Pro Championship, where they defeated St. Louis City 2 by a 4-1 scoreline. The Capybaras then made it to the final under Wray the following season but fell short to Austin FC II.

Under Wray, Columbus Crew 2 has seen Sean Zawadzki, Jacen Russell-Rowe, Mohamed Farsi, and Patrick Schulte get first-team contracts.

The Columbus Crew are back in action Friday, June 14 when the Black & Gold travel to take on New York City FC. You can watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

You can listen to the entirety of the press conference by clicking here.