The Edmonton Eskimos have hired Eric Tillman as the new general manager for the team.

The team has been left without a general manager since July when Danny Maciocia was axed.

The announcement was made by Edmonton Eskimo Head Coach President and CEO Rick LeLacheur Tuesday morning.

"Will this community give Eric a second chance? We are asking them to," said LeLacheur.

Tillman resigned as the Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager after pleading guilty to sexual assault back in January. Tillman had told court he sexually assaulted a teenage babysitter in 2008.

He was given an absolute discharge after a judge said he believed he was remorseful.

"Mr. Tillman's behaviour towards (the victim) was out of character for him. The sexual assault was brief and ended quickly. Mr. Tillman did not persist," a judge stated in court documents." He accepts that he is responsible for his actions and he appears to be genuinely remorseful for those actions."

Tillman says he feels blessed to be given another chance.

"I understand it was a challenging and difficult decision. We talked for hours, literally hours about my background. The easy thing for Rick to do was to say no. There is a second chance there is not third chance," Tillman said Tuesday.

City Councillor Jane Batty feels people do deserve a second chance.

"If the courts saw fit to absolve what he had done then I think we need to be open minded as a community."

LeLacheur says he has been taking the time to get to know Tillman.

"I really learned a lot about his character versus his image and a lot of the things that are out there are just not factual."

Tillman's wife, Francine Tillman, stands behind her husband and says he has her full support.

"Eric is a man of high integrity, and I wouldn't have married anybody different. He is a wonderful father, a wonderful husband and he is here for the right reasons," she said.

According to court documents, Tillman grabbed his 16-year-old babysitter by using her belt loops and thrust himself into her as she was bent over. The court heard that Tillman was on a mixture of pain killer and sleeping pills. He pleaded guilty to sexual assault.

"Eric Tillman put his hands on (the victim's) hips and his fingers through the belt loops on (the victim's) pants, and pulled (the victim's) rear end towards himself."

The 16-year-old victim has since forgiven him. As part of his sentence, Tillman was ordered to pay a $50 victim surcharge fine. He was not ordered by the courts to undergo any sex offender treatment. He says he no longer uses the prescription drugs he was on when the assault took place.

Tillman says he understands some people forgive easier than others.

"There are a lot of people that will take a wait and see approach. Others that will feel strongly, I understand that I respect it. I understand girls and women are precious."

The Sexual Assault Centre says was inundated with calls following the announcement.

"I am hearing from so many people that they will longer be supporting the Eskimos organization in any way. They are not going to go to games, they are not going to buy their kids jerseys," said Karen Smith with the Sexual Assault Centre.

Smith believes the Eskimos' decision to hire Tillman sends the wrong message to Edmontonians and victims of sexual assault.

"He only plead guilty nine months ago. He has not had a chance to rehabilitate himself, it is far too soon for him to be in position like that."

The new general manager says he is ready to move forward with his life.

"There's a reason we have eyes in the front of our head not the back, don't look back, move forward."

Tillman has won three Grey Cups with three different teams, the last being in 2007 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Some high school football players CTV News spoke with say they are more concerned about winning some games and don't feel Tillman's past will have an impact on the team.

"I think that it should just be about the football, and stuff that he's done, really doesn't affect what he can do for an organization, so I think it is a good move for the Eskimos," said Kieran Thomas.

With files from Kevin Armstrong and Sonia Sunger