(Niihama City, January 30, 2019) — LRS fans both here and in other cities were left scratching their heads after Ghosts owner Akane Kenkyusham Jr. abruptly fired longtime General Manager Mike Dunn.

The announcement came at the tail end of a news conference called by Kenkyusham to announce completion of the expansion of the Ghosts’ stadium, Oikake Maze.  After the team’s strong second place finish in 2018, 5,000 extra seats were added to the park.

“We sold out every single game in ’18,” said the owner.  “These new seats will meet the strong demand that our amazing fans have for the team.”

2018 attendance for the Ghosts

It was at that point that Kenkyusham suddenly shifted gears and delivered his surprising news.  “On another note, we regret to announce the departure of Mr. Dunn, but we will be mounting an international search for a new general manager.”

Reporters in attendance erupted with a flurry of questions, but Kenkyusham waved them off.  “I will not comment further, other than to say we thank Mr. Dunn for his contributions, and we have no doubt we will be able to attract a top-notch replacement.”

With that, the owner left the room.  Efforts to contact Dunn were unsuccessful.  Sources indicate that Dunn was forced out rather than resigned.  “He didn’t jump, he was pushed,” said one highly placed source.  “They even confiscated his team iPhone.”

Other sources indicate that the firing was the result of a Kenkyusham’s anger over a single blunder made by Dunn in the 2018 season: he claimed utility infielder Yorikane Oike on waivers without realizing that Oike had been given a contract paying him nearly $3 million per year through 2021.  “Kenkyusham was furious at the miscue,” said one source.  “He never quite got over it, even though Dunn constructed a winning team that was hugely profitable for the owner.”

Dunn joined the Ghosts in prior to the 2011 season, after the team had already won the Shining Star Group in ’10.  Dunn made minor changes to the already-winning club and guided the team in 2011 to another division championship and its highest-ever season win total of 100 victories.

The following season the bottom dropped out and the team went through several years of ineptitude and empty seats.  Dunn embarked on a rebuilding program that has only now proved fruitful, resulting in the Ghost’s second place finish in ’18.

Dunn’s record at the helm of the Ghosts.

Stand by for updates as the search for a new Ghosts General Manager gets underway!