Councillor Doug Ford will pinch-hit as Toronto's budget chair until a permanent replacement is found.

Ford takes over for councillor Mike Del Grande, who quit the job earlier this week.

Technically, Doug Ford is the new vice-chair of the budget committee but will serve as chair for the time being.

His interim role is mostly administrative.  Ford's main responsibility will be to oversee budget committee meetings.

The councillor is not in charge of speaking with city staff and other tasks related to the budget process.

Big fiscal decisions will be left up to the permanent replacement.

Ford says several candidates are in the running but will not comment on who they might be until the decision is made.

He expects the new chief will be picked over the next few weeks, possibly at the city's next executive committee meeting on February 5th.

Ford refutes reports that Del Grande's resignation created bad blood.

"Mike was out with (Mayor Rob Ford) on the weekend, hanging out together ... they're good buddies," says Doug.

Some councillors had suggested that Del Grande's departure is a sign of friction among the mayor's inner circle.

Ford says that's all talk.

"That's just people playing politics," he says, "its disappointing."