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Another management shakeup at MSG

Days before Madison Square Garden hosts its first Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years, Chairman James Dolan has ousted the president of MSG Sports, The Post has learned.

The exit of Dave Howard, who had been at MSG for just about a year, brings up to three the number of presidents who have become toast under Hank Ratner, CEO of the sports and entertainment company.

Howard, who came to MSG from the Mets, was telling friends he intended to part ways with Dolan’s company on Monday.
MSG announced the change internally on Monday morning.

Howard was viewed by some outsiders as a contender for Ratner’s job, which went to Tad Smith after Ratner stepped down last February.
Howard was responsible for running the business operations of the MSG’s sports teams — including the Rangers and the Knicks — a position similar to the one he held with the Mets.

One insider said: “[Smith] is looking at the whole organization and whether things could be done differently.”
“They’ve brought in Phil Jackson [Knicks GM] — it’s a big salary,” Rich Tullo, an analyst with Albert Fried and Co., said, hinting at the possibility of Dolan belt-tightening.

“[Jackson] replaced Steve Mills, who replaced Glen Grunwald,” said Tullo. “It’s three salaries.”

“The new CEO, Tad Smith, seems like he’s going to be very hands on. It’s like ‘Game of Thrones,’” added Tullo.

Also waving good-bye to MSG in recent weeks was Ryan O’Hara, who joined in July and was MSG’s president of content, distribution and sales.

O’Hara was president of TV Guide before joining MSG.

Separately, Melissa Ormond, who was president of MSG Entertainment, has left MSG after having a baby. Her position is believed to have been eliminated.

Ormond oversaw venues such as The Beacon Theatre and Radio City Music Hall, along with acts like the Rockettes. She joined the company in 2005.

MSG’s stock has gotten a boost over the past several weeks as rumors of a possible sale of the LA Clippers for $1 billion or more raced around the sports world.

When the team — which was valued at $575 million by Forbes last February — was sold last week to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for not $1 billion but a mind-blowing $2 billion, the value of every pro franchise spiked.

MSG shares have grown by 11.2 percent after rising over 12 straight trading days. They closed Monday up 0.8 percent, to $55.27.
A spokesman for MSG said: “We are grateful for Dave’s contributions as MSG has pursued strategic initiatives that have driven the company’s growth and wish him the very best moving forward.”