TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs fired general manager John Ferguson on Tuesday, replacing him with former GM Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis. The Maple Leafs, who have missed the playoffs the past two years, are 14th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 19-22-5-3 record. Fletcher served as GM of the Maple Leafs from 1991 to 1997.

Toronto Maple Leafs' interim general manager Cliff Fletcher smiles during a news conference announcing his return to the Maple Leafs in Toronto, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2007. Fletcher, who first served as general manager of the Maple Leafs from 1991-97, will serve as the interim general manager after John Ferguson was fired on Tuesday. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)

"Our team performance has fallen short of what is to be expected," Richard Peddie, president and CEO of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, said during a news conference at the Air Canada Centre. "We need to forge the start of a new beginning for (the) Toronto Maple Leafs."

Fletcher twice guided the team to the Western Conference finals. The 72-year-old is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"We have reached out to Cliff Fletcher and his 50-plus years of hockey management experience," Peddie said.

Fletcher, who received a 19-month contract, will work as a consultant after the new GM is hired.

"I know here in Toronto the expectations are high," Fletcher said. "I look forward to the challenge and a few tough months ahead."

The MLSE board of directors met on Monday and decided to make the change. Ferguson, hired as GM in 2003, was informed on Tuesday.