statman - anything official on that yet??

As official as you will get at 11pm - expect a prepared statement from Owen in the morning

Shiite result :(

GC basketball just posted release on FB.

Withdrew submission.

It's 100% true. Don't expect a press release until the morning.

Can't copy page on iPhone???

Go to Gold coast basketball page on FB. Release is there with comments coming in.

Its all over twitter if you have doubts..

I am on BA/NBL's side on this. They are going to get the blame for the Blaze ownership sacking he who shall not be named and not paying him out.

Definitely not a good time to be in the NBL PR office ( do they even have one? )

OR it will get the 'Gold Coast ruin sporting teams' headline, which TBH is better for the league.

Get a team in Brisbane, ASAP.

I agree with alexkrad. I'm also with BA on this.

Some Blaze fans/former employees are saying BA told them they only needed to bank $200k guarantee but were told today they need the full $1mil.

Not sure why BA would say you only need $200k, what if they went under mid-season? Where would the other $800k come from?

Meers (maybe paraphrasing the Tomlinsons) has termed it "fighting BA" but I think GC were probably lucky to get in without an initial guarantee and after recent events, I think BA were right to put a few requirements in front of them too. If they were fighting anything, it was the ability to keep a basketball club up.

Not good for the Blaze fans or the league to take another hit, but probably the right decision overall.

I agree, definitely the right decision and I guess good on the owners to pull out now rather than wait the 2 weeks and say they cant make it, or say they can make it and then dont.

Feeling sorry for the Blaze fans, support staff and players.

Any Blaze fans out there, hopefully you can stay interested in the league still, It will be a good season with the league tighter now than ever, maybe get on the crocs or taipans train?

Bad news, I was personally hoping they'd stay alive it's never good to have a team out of the league and that's one less different match-up this season.

Fiscally probably the right decision, you have to be able to financially hold up. One would question though - how much time should a club be allowed to search for finances? Admittedly without providing the $1mill guarantee they didn't really deserve or buy themselves time. If it was the 36ers, I'd be fairly certain Adelaide would find owners if not within a few months, then the near future (greater than the time the Blaze had).


So, while trying to be sensitive - Gibson and Petrie to 36ers, how's that looking now?

Here's the email I received tonight....


Media Release

It is with much regret that we announce that we have decided to withdraw our submission to Basketball Australia to be included in the 2012/13 NBL season.

We have been asked to provide further information and given an extension until 31 July 2012 to do so. We feel that we have already done enough to satisfy all requirements and the drawing out of this process has gone on long enough.

We are proud of the contribution we have made to basketball in South East Queensland over the past five seasons and we feel that the Blaze has contributed in a very meaningful way to the community.

The company administration period has been a terrible strain on our loyal coaches, players and staff and their families. They, along with our Pyromaniacs and Corporate Sponsors, have supported us throughout this difficult time and we deeply regret that we have had to make this decision.

We thank everyone for their unwavering support.

Owen Tomlinson

Director

Gold Coast Blaze
--------------

I'm less gutted than in 1996. Still, plenty crapped off. 5 years and a few thousand invested but all gone now. Pretty much lost for words.

While the 36ers are probably my least hated team and I'd love to see Peech and Gibbo land there, I can't say I'll remain a follower of the league.

Thanks Isaac for providing a great site. A little more civilised than OzH and very well moderated. Good luck with its future development.

Signing off for now.

Hang tough Blaze fan. We need the hardcore supporters to not dwindle off. Something good is around the corner mate...

I think most Blaze supporters will now pretty quickly jump on the Sixers bandwagon

Interesting week ahead :)

Wait a few days and it might become clearer if Statman is correct.

Welcome back to the sixers fold Statman :)

Seriously though feel for all you blaze fans :( not a great day

But probably for the first time in a long time looks like the nbl
Has grown a spine and enforced the rules.

Let's hope the players can find new homes

Another really sad day for NBL and basketball fans.
We have got to get some stability in this sport. Maybe this is the beginning.

Regardless of what they were told, If any team needs to have the full 1 million guarantee, it's a team that has gone into Administration in the off season. While I am sad to see them go, I do believe they should have to put up the full funds.

I don't think any of the players will have too much trouble finding new teams. The coaches on the other hand are left with a lot fewer options.

I'm with you bowtie, the GCB closing up shop is not good for the sport and the NBL comp.

The need for a Brisbane team must gather momentum.

And the reasons for the moves the BA Board have made in recent months become all the clearer.

The reinvigoration of the NBL under the previous administration shows how much compromising LS had to do (not getting guarantees etc) in order to get it running at all.

How many more teams are precariously placed?

While critical of the way BA allowed this to drag on Friday the language of yesterdays release showed they wanted to make a very strong statement.

"We thought we were ready to enter the season, we thought we had the finances and we thought we were going to get the green light.

"Sadly, there are just too many hurdles that we are being made to jump. And we can't do it anymore.'

Club went downhill after Dave Claxton left. We need Clacker to start another GC franchise up again quick to save bball on the GC

Good lord
How do you think they spent so much money?
Who did the deal with j0yce?
Who was steering the ship when it was being directed to failure island?

I keep going to write something here, but then i delete it. I think i might wait a few months ;)

Blaze has been a sorry and sad affair since VA broke out. The Joyce thing realistically had little to do with blowing $12mill and having squat at the end of it.

If you were BA, would you let 2 owners who blew that much in 5 years run a club that went into VA, screwed its staff/players (dont care about joyce) etc out of money owed and then pinky swear they will be viable on $1million revenue + $500k capital ?

Lets not just beat up Basketball, the NRL and AFL are both propping up loss making teams. Only 2 teams in the NRL are cash positive without NRL support and the AFL also supports the GC Suns, Lions and a few Melbourne based clubs. If not for the large TV deals, these leagues would also start contracting.

The whole world is changing to a more sustainable financial future ie. no debt, only spend what you can earn, the customer is your life line - treat them like family. Basketball Australia under KK (doesnt start till 4th Aug) will embrace the changes and get bigger when its viable and not through pea brained owners splashing cash and wondering why there is only $7k in the bank.

Should the Salary cap be reduced for a number of years until the NBL is thriving? I mean most of these guys earn reasonable money, enough to make a living. It's definitely not the ridiculous amounts the AFL teams are throwing around but it is sustainable.
In hindsight, would you rather see your team play week in and week out although lose most games like the Sixers or would you rather have no team to watch like the Queensland folk now?
F@ck it's a vicious cycle!

'894, not quite sure it's karma when the owners have ended up bailing from a venture which lost them money? "Haha, life's going to cost you less money now!" It is what it is.

2 really great posts here:

Skip with "If any team needs to have the full 1 million guarantee, it's a team that has gone into Administration in the off season." and Venom's post # 377089

Sport, meet economic realism - don't spend more than you earn.

Yes, definitely all on them but that isn't quite pure excess - extra coaches means extra jobs and opportunities as one example. Just don't see where karma comes in to play. Not like they are losing a money-making machine. NBL teams are more like charities in many ways.

Sadly, too true. And it's a bit funny, because the tribalism of sport is sometimes not far off religious fervour!

I agree with BA for not allowing them in.
They the Blaze came up with the capital and the 1 Million bond and were going to pay the NBL their 145k owed from the VA?
But they Blaze owners would not declare where the funds / capital were coming from?
Shows they faked the VA to avoid paying people and reduce their debts.
They woud do it again and it spelled out they could not be trusted!
Someone on this site said Joyce was offerered a payout of his remaining 2 years wages when he was sacked after taking them to finals in their first year and a tough year with a injury ridden second season.
lts common knowledge that it is totally untrue from people within the club. Thats why it went to court.
Basketball Australia just found out they could not be trusted and l cant believe they were considering leaving them in after faking a voluntary administration to reduce their debts to aruond 90 people on the Gold Coast
Cant believe this site supports such people with perfoming such a low act surely you dont support such an act Isaac.

Cant believe this site supports such people with perfoming such a low act surely you dont support such an act Isaac.

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/basketball/gold-coast-blaze-out-of-the-nbl-20120718-229by.html

why do you say J0yce and not joyce..?

Brendan makes legal threats about various things that aren't worth the hassle. One of them was about wanting me to ban the term "SoJ" (Son of Joyce) on Hoops - said he'd get the lawyers involved otherwise. Half funny, half sad.

I don't know why this hasn't been reported anywhere else.. But something else also happened today...

Another team folded...



The Gold Coast BLADES. Yes, Blades!
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2012/s3548277.htm

RIP Blades.

" or would you rather have no team to watch like the Queensland folk now? "

Wow breaking news here!!

Cairns & T'ville have left the State".........