DeBartolo's Sister Fixes 49ers

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 25, 1999 / 8:12 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

The San Francisco 49ers are no longer Eddie DeBartolo's team, at least not for the foreseeable future.

That much was made clear Wednesday by co-owner Denise DeBartolo York, who put her husband in charge of the team while imposing new restrictions on her brother, reinforcing DeBartolo's open-ended exile from the club.

In a memo to 49ers employees, York told them that DeBartolo, who withdrew from active ownership 14 months ago due to legal problems in Louisiana, no longer is authorized to draw money from club accounts and would have no involvement in personnel or other matters.

"I think the memo had to be stated that way so it was clarified," said general manager Bill Walsh, the former 49ers coach brought back last month to run the team's football operations.

"Eddie is our friend. Eddie is my close friend. He is my colleague. Denise and Eddie have a good relationship. But I'm sure you question who was running the 49ers. We had to make a definitive statement. This should clarify where the 49ers are."

Sam Singer, a spokesman for York, said her memo formalizes the team's new command structure.

"Denise is in charge of the team for the foreseeable future," Singer said. "We don't know when Eddie will return, but Denise is happily taking helm of the team."

The development is the strongest sign yet that DeBartolo's banishment won't end any time soon.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said last month that the suspension of DeBartolo would likely be extended at least through the 1999 season.

It's not known how the latest management changes will affect the 49ers' stalled plans for a $525 million stadium and mall. York has put that project on hold because of soaring construction cost estimates.

York, chairwoman and chief executive officer of the 49ers parent firm, the Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. of Youngstown, Ohio, gave her husband, John York, and an aide, Keith Lenhart, oversight responsibility for the team. John York is a DeBartolo Corp. senior vice president and member of the board of directors. Lenhart is the corporate controller. Both men will add the title of 49ers vice president.

Walsh said that the football operations have been unaffected by the ownership tumult, but conceded that plans for a new stadium are uncertain.

"I don't honestly think there is any difference at this time between how Eddie DeBartolo would be managing this team and Denise DeBartolo's management," Walsh said. "I don't see any difference in philosophy. ... Stadium-wise, I'm not sure of."

DeBartolo had no immediate comment and did not return a phone call to his San Mateo office. League spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL viewed the management moves as a team matter.

DeBartolo stepped down as head of the team's operations in December 1997 when his role in a federal gabling and bribery case in Louisiana became public. He pleaded guilty in October to a federal felony -- failure to report an alleged extortion attempt in connection with the government's prosecution of former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.

In the memo, obtained by the San Francisco Examiner, Denise York ordered 49ers personnel not to answer DeBartolo's questions about club management unless they are put in writing and forwarded to club executive John McVay, with copies sent to her.

She also said she must preapprove any request by DeBartolo for cash reimbursements for his expenses.

"When Eddie was involved in the direct management of this team, he enjoyed many of the benefits, which are earned when undertaking such responsibility. He no longer functions in that capacity," Denise York wrote.