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Just when it seemed the Ken Williams-Ozzie Guillen feud was fizzling, the Miami Marlins manager rekindled the flames by saying he would never return to the Chicago White Sox as long as Williams remains with the team.

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If you think Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams isn’t looking forward to another twelve years with the team, you may be mistaken. Entering his 13th season, Williams seems more motivated than ever.

“The day I was hired for the job I said I wanted to win at least two World Series titles,” Williams said. “That goal hasn’t been accomplished, so you keep plugging away and work hard to do just that.”

Tough times involving both personnel and personal trauma have taken a toll on the hard-driving Willams. His battles with former Sox manager Ozzie Guillen over the last eight years are a part of baseball folklore, and dealing with several family issues, including threats against his son Kyle Williams after the NFL’s NFC Championship game, has become yet another distraction.

But with a new manager, Robin Ventura, in place and a different way of building the ballclub give the 48-year-old California native more reason to stay on the job.

”This is a familiar situation that Robin is walking into because of the continuity of the organization,” Williams said. “We still have to be aware of new ideas to implement into our plans. So with the new group in place, a lot of us are in the listening mode trying to bring fresh ideas to the table and we have done just that with some of the coaches’ ideas.”

Fiscal control of the amateur draft and Latin American signings have Williams and the club looking to rebuild the team that way for the first time in 20 years.

“With the new [collective bargaining agreement], money across the board [to sign young players] will be even for all 30 clubs,” Williams said. “So good scouting and not just outspending other teams will be the key to obtaining the best young talent in the world. As the rules are constituted now, the game has helped point us in that area.”

How long Williams stays on the job is anyone’s guess. Late in the 2011 season he asked team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf if he wanted him to step aside from the job. Instead Reinsdorf gave him a vote of confidence and decided to let Guillen go to the Miami Marlins with one year left on his contract.

“I was not tired of the job but if there was any type of feeling of anything preventing the group from making any kind of move with me, I wanted to eliminate that right away,” Williams said. “I said, ‘If you want me here, great. If not, I am willing to move into another job or out altogether.’”

New challenges are what Williams looks forward to every day, and in addition to being driven to impact his team, he also desires to make a difference for his fellow man.

“I do have an interest in the Chicago public school system and helping the police and firefighters get better recognition and better compensation including better health care packages,” Williams said. “Yes, I do want to do other things, but I am a baseball man all the way. I like the atmosphere and the challenges of the game and the people in it. I look forward to the pursuit of another championship that will never go away.”

If Williams does bring another title to the south side, he has an idea of what he’d like to do next.

“I would love to be involved in an ownership level at some time, but this is not that time,” Williams said.

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox general manager Ken Williams is still feeling his son's pain.

Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers muffed one punt and fumbled another in last Sunday's NFC Championship Game as the New York Giants earned a berth in the Super Bowl. His fumble in overtime set up Lawrence Tynes' winning field goal in New York's 20-17 victory.

"As a father, it was absolutely awful. Even if it weren't my kid, I'd still feel bad for what happened," Ken Williams said Friday night at the White Sox winter festival.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf made what appeared to be a preemptive strike Monday in advance of a potential new Ozzie Guillen rant toward members of the organization.

Four days before the start of the White Sox’s annual fan convention, Reinsdorf praised Guillen’s time with White Sox as both a player and manager, and cleared the air as to why Guillen departed with two games remaining last season. Guillen is now the manager of the Miami Marlins.

“Regarding Ozzie Guillen’s departure as White Sox manager last September, I want to make it clear that he left with our organization’s blessing and at my urging,” Reinsdorf said in a statement released Monday evening.

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CHICAGO -- The White Sox announced a preliminary schedule for the Jan 27-29 SoxFest at the Palmer House Hilton and the fireworks are expected to come early.

Confirmed for the opening night of the annual winter event is a seminar featuring general manager Kenny Williams and new manager Robin Ventura.

Williams’ opening night session has been known to feature a tense back-and-forth with fans, especially when expectations aren’t high for the upcoming season. That appears to be the case for the 2012 season as the White Sox shifted into a quasi rebuilding mode.

Also confirmed for the opening night is a seminar called “State of the Game” with commissioner Bud Selig and broadcaster Hawk Harrelson.

Ventura has seminars all three days, including those with his coaching staff on Saturday and Sunday. Members of the 2005 World Series club have seminars both Saturday and Sunday.

Current players scheduled to appear at SoxFest are Gordon Beckham, John Danks, A.J. Pierzynski, Paul Konerko Dayan Viciedo, Adam Dunn, Brent Morel, Alexei Ramirez, Chris Sale and Jake Peavy, among others.

Also scheduled to appear are members of the 2005 World Series champions including: Joe Crede, Neal Cotts, Frank Thomas, Pablo Ozuna and Cliff Politte.

For more SoxFest information, and a complete list of players who will be in attendance, visit whitesox.com/soxfest.

CHICAGO -- It was after the Chicago White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays last Tuesday that it hit team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

"I was talking to [Blue Jays president] Paul Beeston," Reinsdorf said, "and I told him, 'It seems every time I like a player, he gets traded.' "

One day later, Reinsdorf and the Sox said goodbye to a cornerstone of the franchise when pitcher Mark Buehrle agreed to a four-year, $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins.

"He gave us a chance to keep him and I'm sure he would've taken less money to come back," Reinsdorf said of Buehrle. "He just didn't fit into our plans. That's the thing. You can't let personal feelings for players stand in the way of letting the general manager do what he feels is right for the team."

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CHICAGO – At this point, one of these Rick Hahn rumors is going to become official so if the White Sox don’t want to lose their general manager star in the making it might be time for a promotion.

The White Sox assistant general manager has been the right-hand man to GM Kenny Williams for 11 seasons now and is highly respected for his work with contract negotiations and his growing expertise as a talent evaluator.

Reports have now surfaced that Hahn is a strong candidate for the Los Angeles Angels’ general manager vacancy. He was also talked about as a possibility for the Cubs opening and interviewed with the New York Mets last offseason when they had a GM opening.

Somebody is expected to take a chance on Hahn at some point and this could be the time. Hahn is a native of Winnetka, went to the University of Michigan and also Harvard Law School so he has ties to a variety of areas.

He also has ties to the Angels’ neck of the woods having worked at Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn sports agency in Newport Beach, Calif., for two years.

The White Sox could go the route that the Cubs are expected to follow and make Williams a team president much like the team across town is about to do with Theo Epstein. Then Hahn can move into the White Sox’s general manager role.

How the White Sox divide up responsibilities between Hahn and Williams could go a long way to deciding if Hahn would be up for the promotion. If their duties stay the same and only their titles change that might not be enough of a challenge for Hahn.

But there is a possibility that things might not be much different if Hahn goes to the Angels. The talk has always been that field manager Mike Scioscia has a huge influence on player personnel decisions, perhaps as much or more than any other manager in baseball. Would the GM role with the Angels essentially be akin to an assistant GM job elsewhere?

It’s obvious, though, that the clock is ticking on Hahn once again. Saying that he will one day get a GM job isn’t just giving him a compliment, the number of teams expressing interest in him is growing.

If the White Sox want to keep Hahn, they might want to show him what he means to the organization.

CHICAGO -- A day after Ozzie Guillen was let out of his managerial contract, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said Tuesday he has tried to give up his general manager chair multiple times.

Williams was not willing to leave like Guillen did after Monday night's game, but he did say he would take another role in the organization if it would help turn around the club's fortunes.

"I offered it because, listen, I'm a big believer in self-analysis and self-assessment," Williams said about his offer to turn over the GM job to somebody else. "I have a perspective that is one of needing, not wanting, needing this organization to be amongst the best in baseball. Another World Championship puts you on the map, in my opinion, as an organization that stands and speaks for something. And that's what I wanted. That's what I still want out of my tenure here."

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CHICAGO -- Pitching coach Don Cooper will take over for departed Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen for the final two games of the season, not bench coach Joey Cora.

Guillen will accept a four-year deal with the Florida Marlins, sources told Levine.

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Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen met with team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on Monday, according to Guillen's agent.

Guillen was scheduled as a guest for the "Scott Van Pelt Show" on ESPN Radio but his agent told the show's producer that Guillen had a meeting with Reinsdorf that would conflict with the appearance.

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Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams didn’t have any definitive answers before Friday’s game as to whether he or manager Ozzie Guillen would be around for the 2012 season. He did, however, acknowledge that he’d prefer that those decisions be made behind closed doors and not through the media.

“I would rather do it privately,” Williams said of meeting with Guillen and White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in the offseason. “Whether or not we have plans to sit down, or when, where, how, what the ultimate result is going to be and all that, I think it's speculation that is dangerous. And it's unnecessary. Now I know that it hasn't been exactly private, but I think everybody is better served if it is. It's just a more respectful way to do business.”

Guillen said that while he has yet to sit down with Reinsdorf, he did expect them to have a conversation sometime in the near future. Guillen added that it was not his job to determine if any changes need to be made to a team that has underachieved to a 76-80 record, sitting 14 games out of first place.

That task lies in the hands of Williams and Reinsdorf, as they evaluate the team and make any necessary moves in the offseason. However, when asked if he would give himself an extension if he were in charge, Guillen, whose contract expires after next season, was quick to answer.

“Nope, because I’m part of this (underachieving) group,” Guillen said. “(President Barack) Obama asked for an extension, why shouldn’t I ask for one? (President) Obama wants four more years. You always knock on the door to see what you get. I don’t think they have to, but my job is just to make sure to ask, you know what I mean?”

In the past, Williams has said that in baseball there is always an expiration date when it comes to leadership. However, he didn’t seem to feel that was the case when it came to the job he’d done and wasn’t willing to abandon hope in others in the organization.

“Not in my leadership,” Williams said. “And I don't know that anywhere else. I mean, listen, last year in September we were in first place. We didn't make the playoffs last year but it's not like we were, you know, scrubs. We have spent over the last decade a lot of time in first place. I'll be the first to admit that the goals haven't been accomplished because if they had there would be more banners up there on the rafters.

“I'm not one to easily give up the ship and change course of direction. I'm in the listening phase right now and that's all I can do. I'll continue to be listening and we'll see where we end up as a result. Ozzie's got some ideas that I think he's still developing. We'll see.”

For his part, Guillen seems to be growing weary of all the speculation and is ready for his fate to be determined.

“People everywhere I go, they ask me the same questions and they got mad at me because I answered,” Guillen said. “Right now I’m at the point like. ‘hey man, whatever it is, it is.’ If I’m back here, good. If I’m not, good. That’s the way it is. Whatever happens, happens.”

Despite rampant rumors about both his and Guillen’s job status, Williams insisted that the team’s first priority this offseason is to determine who this team is and what they’ll have available in terms of resources to improve the club. The White Sox increased their payroll by nearly $25 million prior to the season.

“I do know that we won’t have any room to add (to payroll). I can tell you that,” Williams said. “I wouldn’t expect that we add. I wouldn’t even expect we stay the same. I would expect we might have to trim a little bit. But again the decision hasn’t been made. I said the same thing last year and we added.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ozzie Guillen might have his differences with Kenny Williams, but it didn’t stop the Chicago White Sox manager from giving the team’s general manager a major compliment.

Guillen was asked about a report that Williams has been assured he will be back next season despite the team’s poor play.

“I don’t see why not, he did a good job,” Guillen said. “One thing about it -- all the people in Chicago, they’re going to blame Kenny. I remember when we made this club, everybody was excited. Don’t turn your back on the man. Don’t do that.”

The compliment might have also been Guillen’s way of saying that while he has his differences with Williams personally, those issues don’t extend to decisions the duo make when it comes to the team.

Already, Williams has said that when it comes to the blame for this season he is the one to look at. Guillen has been doing the same, putting the blame of a disappointing season on his shoulders. His latest attempt came before Thursday’s game against the Royals.

“I think they gave me a good club to manage,” Guillen said. “We don’t play well? Yes. And we have to blame who, pitchers, catchers, hitters? No, No. Blame the team, but I’m the one running this club. But don’t turn on Kenny. People in Chicago, don’t do that.

“I remember in spring training, people were very excited about this ball club. Why are we going to turn on a guy now when he’s supposed to do what we’re supposed to do? Don’t turn on Kenny and [chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf]. People should at least say thank you to Kenny and Jerry. Put the money out there and bring the players.”

If Guillen has issues with Williams, a major one, at least, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with bringing aboard a power hitter like Adam Dunn, who strikes out a lot, instead of going for speed and versatility.

“I know how hard it was to put this club together … convincing the big guy [Reinsdorf],” Guillen said. “Then don’t blame Kenny. Can he come back? I think Kenny is doing a good job. I think since I worked here, I don’t say he’s a bad general manager. I think he’s deserved and earned it. That’s Jerry’s call.”

MINNEAPOLIS -- A.J. Pierzynski doesn't plan on giving up playing time next season without a fight.

With rave reviews still coming in over Tyler Flowers' performance at catcher since being recalled July 10, speculation has started on what the Chicago White Sox will do behind the plate next season.

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Count Chicago White Sox pitcher John Danks among those who believe Rick Hahn would be a good choice as the Chicago Cubs' next general manager.

Hahn, who is the Sox vice president/assistant GM, is considered one of the top GM prospects in baseball. And Danks, appearing on "Chicago Gamenight" on ESPN 1000 on Tuesday said Hahn would be a good choice for any team.

"I think he'd be a good GM anywhere," Danks said. "I know there's a lot of interest, just from the whispers you hear around the field.

"He's very good at what he does. He and [GM Ken Williams] do a good job working together. I think Rick will be successful wherever he goes."

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine reported that Hahn has a clause in his contract allowing him to talk to a handful of teams about a GM opening, and the Cubs are on that list. Hahn was a finalist for the New York Mets job last year.

One of baseball's best and brightest will be able to interview for the vacant Chicago Cubs' general manager's post if called upon.

White Sox vice president and assistant general manager Rick Hahn has a clause in his contract that allows him to interview with a handful of major league teams for a GM position, and the Cubs are on that list, according to a major league source.

Hahn previously has interviewed for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets jobs. The Winnetka native pulled himself out of contention for the Cardinals job after two interviews. In 2010, he finished runner-up to Sandy Alderson for the Mets job.

What may be the most interesting element to any pursuit of Hahn may be the way Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf approaches Hahn's position. Hahn, GM Kenny Williams and Reinsdorf make up the brain trust for all White Sox baseball decisions. Hahn is the highest paid assistant GM in baseball, according to industry sources. And he's considered one of the top GM prospects.

Knowing the Cubs may be seriously interested in Hahn, Reinsdorf may decide to promote Williams to a position with a greater title such as team president and move Hahn into the general manager post. This would be similar to the move Reinsdorf made with the Chicago Bulls, where former GM John Paxson was promoted to VP position above general manager Gar Forman.

Hahn is considered the No. 1 candidate in baseball who is not a GM. SI and Baseball America have named Hahn as the top of the line in the next wave of GM stars.

Hahn would have a tough choice to make if the Cubs do call and Reinsdorf does change the structure of his front office in order to retain what he may consider an irreplaceable employee.