Basketball: Coach sceptical about commitment to rescue bid

Gavin Briggs
Gavin Briggs
Nuggets assistant coach Gavin Briggs is keeping his fingers crossed the franchise can be saved but questions whether the Basketball Otago (BBO) board is genuinely looking for alternatives.

His comments come after BBO made a backflip on its decision not to enter a team in the 2009 National Basketball League (NBL).

The board called a special meeting at the Edgar Centre on Wednesday night to inform the basketball community of its decision but following an hour and a-half of passionate discussion resolved to look at "alternative options and a different model for the franchise".

Briggs was sceptical how seriously the board would consider any 11th-hour attempt to save the franchise.

"The question [that] needs to be asked [is] are they genuinely looking for alternatives . . . when they have already made their decision. They've suddenly gone from making a decision . . . and by the end of the night we are back to square one."

Briggs was surprised by the lack of fortitude shown by the board, which was exposed under pressure.

"It comes back to the question of what is the strategic direction of the Nuggets. You know, we've gone through three coaches in four years and we're back to where we were four years ago. With the flip-flopping [Wednesday] night you just have to ask where are we at."

Briggs was not prepared to lay blame with any individual in the management or on the board, but he did suggest it was "time for some new blood".

During the course of the meeting a ginger group emerged, including former Nuggets Andrew Parke, Dean Ruske and Brent Matehaere and former coach Todd Marshall.

The group met last night to discuss the situation.

"What we have to be clear on is are we just going to have a lot of talk or are we actually going to be prepared to do something about it," Briggs said.

"Perhaps it is time for us to put our hands up and say `I want to be on the board' and see where it goes."

As for the million-dollar question - if the franchise survives, how can it be turned around? Briggs was unsure.

"What do we do to resurrect it? I honestly don't know at this stage. But it would be a shame if we lose the Nuggets. Hopefully, we get that extension to give us more time so we can look at it further."

The first instalment of the NBL fee is due on Sunday and BBO indicated it would apply to Basketball New Zealand for an extension.

The reality is BBO probably has more time to find a way to keep the Nuggets in the league.

Last year, the Auckland Stars did not pay the fee until the league threatened to boot them out of the post-season.

If the Nuggets do take a year out of the league there is no guarantee from the NBL board their licence will not be taken.

That prospect had many at the meeting jittery.

"My biggest fear is we have our neighbours, Southland, putting together a proposal . . . with a view to 2010 looking to come into the league. I don't want to be put in the position where we are taking that risk."

Former Nuggets manager Graeme Heazlewood agreed with Briggs' assessment. Heazlewood was a key person in getting the Nuggets into the league in 1990.

He walked the streets looking for corporate partners and campaigned on the Nuggets' behalf.

A former vice-president of the old New Zealand Basketball Federation and former Tall Black manager, Heazlewood believes it would be a disaster if the Nuggets took a break from the league.

"I know financially it is not easy but I do hope the present administration have a real good look at all the different avenues," he said.

"I know the amount of effort it took to get into the league and if they have a year off they'll lose the lot."

The Hawkes Bay Hawks took a year out from the league in 1999 and re-entered in 2000.

And Taranaki took three years out and made it back after much hard work from the likes of former chairman Warren Osborne.

 

 

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