TORONTO -- Matt Stajan fired back at reports that former NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly was being lured back to his former role.

"I would strongly disagree that is going to happen," the Maple Leafs union representative said Friday. "I don't think there is any turning back now. I'm fully confident we made the right decision."

Kelly was fired Aug. 31, less than two years after accepting the job. Rumblings began this week that the players association was contemplating having him return.

But Stajan shot back, emphasizing there was no grey area in the decision that was made.

"This is all speculation and opinions of one or two guys," Stajan said. "At the end of the day, we're representing the best interests of 750 players and in my opinion, a change needed to be made -- that was the overwhelming decision of the board."

Stajan explained that a smaller committee handled a review of how business operations were being handled in the NHLPA headquarters, and the players weren't satisfied with what was happening there.

"When we do an office review and the office isn't functioning, well, that's on the leader," he said. "There's other issues that came up and (because of it), you make a change at the leadership role... We all felt a change had to be made, overwhelmingly we felt that."

The timing of Kelly's dismissal was curious, just days before the start of training camps league wide. With the collective bargaining agreement up in three years, the union remains without a head, two weeks prior to the puck dropping on the 2009-2010 season.

"We felt as an executive board that a change had to be done now. The proof was in the pudding," Stajan said. "The longer we wait, the worse it's going to be for the union. "I know we made the right decision. Now that people are questioning this, it's disappointing. Not all (players) know all the facts. This isn't helping our union and the players know that."