Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s press secretaries quit ‘on principle’

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's office staff took another massive hit on Monday when his communication department resigned.

Press secretary George Christopoulos and deputy press secretary Isaac Ransom stepped down, with CBC News reporting the pair quit "on principle."

The resignations follow last week's sudden firing of chief of staff Mark Towhey, who had reportedly urged Ford to go to rehab.

Towhey tweeted his respect for Christopoulos and Ransom following the announcement.

The move leaves only acting chief of staff Earl Provost as a senior member of Ford's staff.

But every cloud has a silver lining. This just means there are more positions that can be filled by Ford's football buddies.

The Toronto Star reports that J.C. Hasko has been hired to work in the mayor's office.

Hasko, who started his job on May 13, was a former star on Ford's high school football team, the Don Bosco Eagles, in 2009. He moved on to the Toronto Varsity Blues in 2010.

As the Star reports, he wasn't the first person with a football connection to Ford has been hired in the Mayor's Office. Andrew Gillis, a former U of T quarterback, was previously a special assistant and Michael Prempeh, another special assistant, also played for the U of T football team.

There have also been mayor's assistants who have helped coach football teams. And David Price, another recent hire, had described himself as Ford's former football coach.

Price was also named in a Globe and Mail report alleging Ford's brother, Coun. Doug Ford, ran was a high-level hashish dealer in the 1980s. Price was named as a former participant in that enterprise.

Doug Ford has denied ever dealing drugs.

Rob Ford has told reporters he will address the staff changes shortly.