The potential new owners of the Yokohama BayStars made it clear Tuesday that they will be the ones to decide who manages the team next season, not the current ownership.
"I think it's our responsibility to choose," said Yoichiro Ushioda, chairman of the JS Group Corp.
The JS Group is negotiating with Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings Inc. to purchase a majority stake in the BayStars, who finished last in the Central League this season with the worst record in Japanese baseball under first-year manager Takao Obana.
While owner Kiyoshi Wakabayashi has said Obana will return in 2011 and that the BayStars will keep their name and stay in Yokohama, the JS Group have begged to differ.
Ushioda said the BayStars' disastrous season must be analyzed before any and all decisions are made.