Blue Bombers fire head coach Berry

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers fired head coach Doug Berry on Wednesday.

Berry, 60, guided the Canadian Football League team to three straight playoff appearances and signed a two-year contract extension with the club at the start of the season.

"This move has been made in what the club believes is in the best interest of the on-field product," Bombers president Lyle Bauer said in a statement. "We thank Doug for his contribution over the past three years and wish him the best in the future."

Winnipeg finished second in the weak East Division this year, but did so with an 8-10 record. The Bombers lost 29-21 in a home playoff game to the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.

The move was a shocker, considering Berry had signed a contract extension earlier this year.

However, much more was expected from the Bombers after the club reached the Grey Cup last year before losing 23-19 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

On Dec. 15, 2005, Berry took over a Blue Bombers squad that had won just five games that season. Berry spent the previous seven years as an assistant coach and offensive co-ordinator with the Montreal Alouettes.

He posted a 9-9 record in his first season with Winnipeg, leading the club to a playoff berth, and departs with 27-26-1 mark overall.

The Blue Bombers ended the 2008 campaign last in the CFL in scoring, averaging 21 points per game.

The firing of Berry came on the same day that Blue Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown and linebacker Zeke Moreno were named to the CFL all-star defensive team.