Jed York: Niners to seek GM, who (will/could/might) hire new head coach

San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York said Sunday via text message that the team will hire a general manager and ultimately a new head coach, suggesting Mike Singletary will not return next season.

The 49ers parted ways with former GM Scot McCloughan in March and have operated without someone in that position since. Vice president of player personnel Trent Baalke, whom York said would be a candidate for the job, (fuck no) has handled GM-type decisions.

York, speaking after the 49ers were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 25-17 loss to the St. Louis Rams, said the team will conduct a GM search that will then lead to another head coach. Singletary could be gone before the 49ers' season finale against the Arizona Cardinals next week.

Sources close to several of the top available coaching candidates -- ESPN analyst Jon Gruden and Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh in particular -- indicated that both men could be interested in the impending vacancy, but they would require a restructured front office and a proven GM heading up the personnel department.

LINK: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81d38177/article/york-niners-to-seek-gm-who-will-hire-new-head-coach?module=HP_headlines

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

(12-26) St. Louis - -- Team President Jed York said he will begin a national search to hire a general manager to run the 49ers' football operations.

What York won't say is if the new GM will get to conduct a national search to replace coach Mike Singletary. (Mmmm... different take from above)

"We want to take our time before we make any decision like that," York said about Singletary's future after the 49ers were eliminated from the NFC West race Sunday with a 25-17 loss to the Rams.

"You don't want to make an emotional decision right now after the game."

York would not commit to Singletary as his coach for the season finale, much less beyond this season.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/26/SPF91GVT3D.DTL#ixzz19GQI0lkS

and with today's loss, the Niners are guaranteed a top ten draft choice. If fact, if they lose next Sunday, it might even be top five.

I would say things are looking up and can only get better, except the Yorks are still running things...

I saw a player pushing a towel into the player's face.

I think Ginn was telling Smith to STFU. Troy Smith was upset he was being benched.

On edit: Ginn and Smith go way back -- they played together at Glenville High in Cleveland.