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Terry Francona Was ‘Not an Option’ to Manage 2012 Red Sox, Club’s Focus Solely on Future (Video)

As the Red Sox struggled in 2012, many fans longed for the days of Terry Francona. But while it will do nothing to alleviate the pain endured this season, those Sox fans can at least take solace in the fact that bringing Tito back simply wasn’t an option.

“I don’t want to open old issues except to say that Terry was not an option,” Red Sox president and CEO Larry Lucchino said Friday on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan. “He told us he was not prepared to manage again in 2012, and we took him at his word, so no, that alternative was never considered or explored.”

While Francona was still at the helm for the Red Sox’ epic 2011 collapse, he’ll be remembered by most Boston fans as the skipper who brought two long awaited World Series titles to Boston. Lucchino and Co. are already hard at work finding someone who can replicate that success.

Certainly the Sox would like to find their next manager quicker than they did last year, but as Lucchino points out, finding the right guy for the job is the most important thing to keep in mind.

Check out the video above to hear more.

Click here to hear Francona’s take on Bobby Valentine’s exit >>