Is that the same as the Board has his full support????

Thank God, the current poor season is a result of so many new players not fitting in, not the coach who has led the group for years. All this nonsense about Phil being disinterested. Even if he didn't care about the team, surely he would not deliberately embarrass himself by doing a poor job. His pride has always been on the line. His achievements of winning championships may be a thing of the past but he is not about to walk away with shame. I doubt he is ready to go until he brings back the glory of championship years and end his career on a high.

who are the two coaches??

Did Mal himself say he has taken submissions from 2 other coaches or is that speculation as well?

EP, Stacker and Ninnis. EC, I have heard that as well so I wouldn't call it pure speculation. Maybe a bit like a government agency having an obligation to put a job out for tender even if they prefer the incumbent to be returned?

Many clubs have been sending their teams up to Singapore early so they can acclimatise but apparently it's still a very tough environment for visiting sides. I don't doubt they can do it (would never bet the house against them!), but just think that without Willie and the Slingers also desperate for a win, that it's going to be a tough one to get.

"Contracted for Next year and submitted plans for next season"

Screams out "We are trying to see if the contract is watertight" and "We want a picture of what Laurel and Hardy want to do, so we can compare it to other candidates"

The fact is, however, they are contracted and Adelaide will NOT pay them out. They will either have to walk or not meet any (if there IS any) performace criteria for the contract to be void.

The Front Runner for Smyth's job, AT THIS STAGE, is definitely Phil Smyth.

Done, dusted, gone.

Izzy, media, Hawks or Bullets?

More importantly Izzy....based on what?

Wouldnt it mean Mal would have egg on his face by letting Phil go now after coming out and strongly saying he has a contract for next season?

I would suggest Phil will be staying...unless of course they have an "arrangement" that Phil will "resign"

He wouldn't resign. If he left, he would go to another opportunity in media, surely?

EC, your blind faith in Phil is truly awe-inspiring ...

I personally would like to see Phil have at least one more season.

He does not deserve to be remembered for this "annus horribilis" season, and I think 1 more season, with purse strings more relaxed to assist in better recruiting will see fortunes return to where they have been before.

However, if it becomes obvious even early in the season that even with better talent on court that Phil isnt getting it done, Mal should not be shy about cutting his losses.

Yogee, what purse strings? - we spent the cap. Problem is we spent it on guys like Wheeler, Farley, Nash, Mastro etc etc. instead of re-signing guys like Holmes, Forman etc BEFORE their contracts expired.

Melvin Corpuscle, were you invited to make a submission for the head coach position? If not, why not? If so, why didn't you win? You're obviously better than Phil, or so you think.

I think it's reasonably easy to read between the lines in this article. It's saying that speculation he has already resigned is ridiculous, but it is not saying that speculation he will not be there next season is ridiculous.

It says he has a contract for next season and has put forward his plans, but it does not say he has a contract which both parties will definitely be honouring.

My interpretation of the article is that Phil will certainly see out this season, and could very well be there next year, although this isn't as water tight. Personally I'd like to see Ninnis given a chance as top dog.

IF Mal does want to change coaches is there another position at the club that he could move Phil into - similar to the NBA where some coaches dissappear to GM roles or development roles. Is there a suitable position that Phil could take up to save face on his part and Mal's as well?

Im guesing the answer is no but stranger things have happened.

Statman,


Why couldn't he be given the same role as John Reid (at the Crows) and Peter Rhode at (the Port Power)but for basketball.

General Manager  basketball operations

But he IMHO he had to stay, maybe they will look at that at the end of the 2007/08 season.

EC - congratulations - here's the award for World's Most Flawed Argument.

Jimmy,

I don't think Phil would want to take an operations manager type role, bit of a step down from head coach don't you think?

Also I don't think there's the same need for that position for an NBL club, for a start you've got 1/3 the players to manage, 1/10 the crowd to think about, comparatively minimal media commitments and requirements, logistically it's no where near as demanding (although if Phil's lost interest in the game then it might suit him well!!)

No way to Stacker, he is a dud coach! Never done anything, always had a talented roster and can not deliver.

Smythe will be there for the rest of his contract.

Yeah 2 time coach of the year, with a talented roster that should have won at least 2 championships. A man that got the sack from the Crocs. A man who can only coach Juniors. That squad of u/23 was talented and i think Mark Price as coach would have won as the gold medal, oh the championships were in australia too! Get real Annom, Stacker definately is no good, his record shows it!

DrB, you are completely destroying your credibility here.

This "Stacker definately is no good, his record shows it" after acknowledging his awards - bizarre.

Let's just say you personally don't rate him, and leave it at that rather than float your blatant exaggerations around the place as though they were fact.

apologies for my anti stacker rant isacc, yes i do not like him, i have heard negative talk about the guy.

I would rather see Ninnis here anyday!

DrB, what about both Stacker and Ninnis together?

Talk to enough people and you'll find bad things said of everyone. The field seems to be as split on Stacker as it is on Smyth TBH.

Only if Ninnis is HC and Stacker AC .. ha ha lOL that would be great! no seriously i would not like to have stacker at the club. I do not see him as a good coach. The roster he had at the crocs was great but they could never win a championship. He has limited plays, and coaches for his own survial. I think Ninnis would be exciting and offer some injection back to the SA basketball.

Anon 117241

Isnt a 3 time championship coach and former Boomers coach, plus many player awards a decent coaching CV as well??

Oops, that would be the current coach.

Phil was on AA Tuesday night. Said he had spoken to Mal from Sydney and assured him he wasn't going to resign. Mal then told Phil that he wouldn't accept it anyway.