Gary Ross NOT Directing Catching Fire?

After a couple weeks of negotiations, Gary Ross has decided to step down and not direct Catching Fire.  Ross directed The Hunger Games and recieved much praise for it.  This isn't the first time a director stepped down from a franchise.  There were numerous directors that worked on Harry Potter and Twilight.  Still, it comes as a surprise that Ross would step down knowing that this is such a successful franchise.  He released a statement which you can read here.

From the statement it is clear, that he is not leaving because he isn't interested, but because he doesn't feel he has enough time to develop the script and such.  Catching Fire has already been set to release November of 2013, which really makes time a huge factor. 

Personally, as I mentioned I was not the biggest fan of the first movie.  However, I don't know if anyone could have done it any better.  The only thing that bothers me is that Ross is the one who changed some crucial elements of the book, which leaves whoever comes in with basically a whole new storyline.  It was his idea to put so much President Snow, for instance, Ross has to at least walk the new director through what he wanted to come of that storyline.  I am interested in seeing which directors are waiting to snag this.  I vote Christopher Nolan.  That would never happen.

What do you guys think about this decision?  Do you think he should have stuck with it?

Which director do you want to step in?