in the second and gave Philadelphia a one-goal advantage

TORONTO - Paul Beirne, Toronto FCs vice-president of business operations and the franchises first employee, is leaving the MSL club. Beirne, whose December departure is the latest in a string of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment moves, says he leaves the team with plenty of good memories. "This Saturdays TFC match will be my last with the club," Beirne tweeted Thursday. "Thank you for 7 seasons of awesome moments! So proud to have been a part of it!" Toronto wraps up its season Saturday against the visiting Montreal Impact. Beirne, 47, was offered another position outside of soccer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment but declined. "The organization structure changed with the new leadership," Beirne, choosing his words carefully, said in an interview. He already has a new job lined up, although he declined to detail his next challenge. MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke has rung in the changes since taking over MLSE this summer. Toronto FC president and Kevin Payne was fired last month, with Tim Bezbatchenko taking over as GM. Leiweke, the man who brought David Beckham to MLS, has been particularly hands-on with TFC since taking charge. Leiweke, Bezbatchenko and manager Ryan Nelsen recently returned from a scouting trip to Europe in search of marquee talent. MLSE revamped its senior management in July and COO Tom Anselmi stepped down last month. Asked if he would have stayed with the soccer team if he had his druthers, Beirne replied diplomatically: "I will always be part of TFC." While Toronto has been a model franchise in many regards off the field, its lack of success on the pitch has been galling — and fan support has suffered as a result. The 5-17-11 team has missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year. The team has averaged 18,439 at BMO Field, which ranks 10th in the league this season, and attendance plummeted to 12,627 in a rain-drenched loss to Sporting Kansas City last month. Beirne joined MLSE in 1994 and became director of business operations for TFC in May 2006, switching from his job in charge of the Leafs and Raptors tickets operations. Despite the continued struggles on the pitch, Beirne sees light at the end of the Toronto FC tunnel. "Between Tim and Ryan, I think the football side of things is in really good hands," he said. He pointed to past lack of consistency in coaches and players. "Thats not a shot at anybody involved along the way. Its just been our reality for seven years. So as a fan of TFC, Im very optimistic for the future." As vice-president of business operations, Beirne essentially was in charge of everything at the club outside the pitch. He makes no excuses, but sees more positives than negatives at the club. "Weve made our bed, when youre talking about our reputation or how fans perceive us," he said. "However, Im enormously proud, of not only what happens at BMO Field on Saturdays in the summer but whats happening up at the KIA Training Ground, whats happening with our the academy, how the other teams in Canada have followed suit. "I think were in the middle of a sea change and all positive for the game in Canada," he added. "Im just enormously proud to have been a small part of it." Beirne was a popular figure among many TFC supporters, who saw the same kind of enthusiasm for the club as they had. "This is my baby and the baby of a handful of us here," he said. "My wife reminded me this morning if you love something, youve got to set it free. "So I am looking forward to taking in the games from the stands. I still have season tickets and I wont be leaving any time soon." Francisco Cervelli Jersey .NYCFC confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that this week Lampard signed a contract to start in July — midway through the new teams first season in MLS. Felipe Vazquez Pirates Jersey .J. -- Pete Carroll said it was the suspension of linebacker Bruce Irvin last spring that finally got the attention of the rest of the Seattle Seahawks that they needed to be taking their commitment to the team more seriously. http://www.pittsburghpiratesprostore.us/Jung-ho-Kang-pirates-jersey/ .com) - Brad Stuart has yet to play a regular-season game for the Colorado Avalanche, but that didnt deter the club from signing the veteran defenseman to a two-year contract extension on Monday. Corey Dickerson Jersey . Hawkins severely sprained his left ankle while making a diving catch during training camp and went on injured reserve with a designation he could return midway through the season. He was back at practice Wednesday. Starling Marte Jersey . This was one of them. Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBIs to carry the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Sunday.PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers have turned their season around by playing smart hockey. Some good luck hasnt hurt, either. Matt Read scored a pair of goals to lead the Flyers to their fifth win in six games, 4-1 over the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. "Were having fun out there, doing simple things, not turning pucks over and just playing simple hockey," Read said. "Were a good team, and it just takes a matter of time and a couple of lucky bounces to get a positive atmosphere and get things clicking and going our way." Vincent Lecavalier also scored and Scott Hartnell added an empty-net goal for the Flyers, who set a season-high with 46 shots. Philadelphia began the season by losing seven of its first eight games. "Theyre playing good hockey," said Flyers coach Craig Berube, who replaced the fired Peter Laviolette after Philadelphia began the season with three losses. "There are things they can improve on. Youre always working to get better, and thats what were going to do." Reads goals came 1:40 apart late in the second period. Steve Downie and Sean Couturier assisted on both tallies for Philadelphia (9-10-2), which outshot Buffalo 46-30. Tyler Myers netted the lone goal for Buffalo, which is 1-3 under interim coach Ted Nolan and an NHL-worst 5-18-1 this season. "We have to play a certain way, and by doing stupid things like we have been, its going to be ugly games," Nolan said. "Ive seen enough in four games. We have to change some things, and players have to do it or its going to be a long year. "You have to do simple things. You cant have turnovers, cant have foolish penalties, cant be muscled off the puck." The game was the first between two Firrst Nations head coaches.dddddddddddd. Nolan is Ojibwe, and from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and Berube is part-Cree and from Calahoo, Alberta. Myers beat Ray Emery from close range in the first period to stake Buffalo to a 1-0 lead. But it was all Philadelphia from that point. "We have to grind it out," Nolan said. "It cant be a sometime thing, it has to be an all-the-time thing. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and get a certain mindset." Read tied it with a one-timer from the slot with 6:51 left in the second and gave Philadelphia a one-goal advantage by deking goalie Ryan Miller, while all alone in front of the crease, and putting a highlight-reel shot into the top of the net with 4:11 remaining in the period. "You cant get down on yourself or your teammates," Read said of the Flyers poor start. "We have a great team. Now its about having fun and keep playing hard." Berube said there cant be any letup from his players. "You have to stay on it all the time," he said. "You cant take a break. You have to be really smart out there. You have to keep working at it. If you want to be a really good team in this league, it takes a lot of work and a lot of preparation." Lecavalier one-timed a slap shot from the right circle midway through the third to make it 3-1. Ville Leino and Tyler Ennis had assists for Buffalo, which has lost three straight. NOTES: The Flyers have outscored opponents 24-8 over their last six games. ... Philadelphia won for the first time this season when it allowed the first goal. . The Flyers have won five straight against the Sabres at home. . Reads first goal snapped a 132-minute, 52-second scoreless streak for Philadelphia against Buffalo. ' ' '