MONTREAL - The federal Conservatives are courting a former CFL commissioner in the hope of winning a Montreal riding for the first time in two decades and snap a cycle of futility in Canada's second-biggest city.

A Tory riding association on the island says it has approached Larry Smith, most recently the president of the Montreal Alouettes, about running for the party.

An executive with the Tories' Lac-Saint-Louis riding association also says his group has been informed the football figure has expressed an interest in running.

If so, the Tories might have their best chance of breaking into Montreal since the end of the Mulroney era in 1993.

They have been distant also-rans in that riding, and across the city, in recent elections. Montreal has proven to be a far tougher nut for the Tories to crack than Toronto.

"I think he'd be a good candidate," said Lac-Saint-Louis riding executive member Stephen Pickford.

"He's a name candidate, he's somebody who would work hard for the riding and is known to the people. I think that's what we need -- is somebody who has a high profile and a high visibility."

He said the association recently spoke with Smith about becoming a candidate -- and he expressed an interest.

However, he says, Smith wasn't able to commit immediately because he was examining some business opportunities and wanted to consider the impact a political career might have on his family.

This week, Smith announced that he will step down as president and CEO of the Montreal Alouettes at the end of the year.

This isn't the first time the ex-Alouettes player and former newspaper publisher has expressed interest in politics, or the Conservative party.

He considered a run for the leadership of the Tories in 2004.

"I do know that Larry's kept his foot in the door in the door with regards to the party as a whole," Pickford said.

Conservative circles are now abuzz with rumours that a party announcement about Smith's candidacy is imminent.

However, sources in Ottawa closer to Prime Minister Stephen Harper said they were unaware of any impending announcement.