Im sure a new coach is all they needed all along. Childress missing games, Markovic not working out, Harrington taking half the games he was here to get in shape.... any other coach wouldve been able to overcome that stuff and get a winning record. If they were going to sack him, dont be weak and say he has the support so cliched.

He has no idea as a coach. Down I think 3 with 40 seconds and he just stands there on sidelines Wednesday and does nothing. Where's the urgency from him from the bench.

Anon, Markovic was rubbish in Tville,what were you watching?

There are extenuating circumstances with Markovic so tread lightly there.

FFS its been well documented Markovic has some mental health issues he has been dealing with. Read between the lines there. I just think thats like cutting Alvin Gentry for the Pelicans start when Davis has been out. Directing of his tactics in close games is one thing, but not exactly sackable offences. Club wanted W's he had no way to get them and theyve cracked it. Cant think of a coach who could've got those wins though.

Ben knight is certainky not capable.he just crawls and sucks his way in.
They just bought in an Nba guy so don't be surprised or maybe Timmy will takeover since he picked the team.
Maybe they will gice minnie me(jacob) a go but that wouldn't be a great decision either

kings have a recent history of bringing in 1st time coaches at NBL level. None of the last 3 have been successful.

It is not the fault of the coaches for taking the opportunity. The Kings need an experienced , successful coach, not a coach starting out.

Yeah, He's losing a lot
So he's gotta lose his spot
Here's the sack..

Here's the sack
Here's the sack

Personally I probably would have just let him ride out the season (it appears to be a bit of a lost cause at this point - bottom of the table with most remaining games on the road), and then make the change. He had some bad luck with injuries/players being out (Childress, Markovic), integrating others on the fly (primarily Harrington), and what appears to be a general dysfunction within the team.

Part of that last point potentially is on Cotter, but it is the team he was given. In saying that, his management in-game seemed to be puzzling at times (in my opinion, and granted I am no coaching expert) and he appeared to be unable or unwilling to make adjustments, and most certainly appeared unable to light a fire under his players at times (a lack of leadership perhaps?). The players at the very least seemed unaware of what they should have been doing, and an overall lack of purpose for stretches, which I imagine a coach is largely responsible for.

Personally I'd be happy just to see effort (a la Townsville, despite being overmatched on the regular) and a semblance of direction, clear & concise.

I'm hearing Rucker!!!!

Rucker???? another 1st timer at this level??


surely NOT!!!!

Nice guy, but the players need a coach that will fire them up. The other teams just appear faster, more aggressive, better conditioning, and confident. The coach was not able to react to how the game was being played. He appeared to be unable or unwilling to make adjustments. There was too much - shoot the 3 and no rebounders in sight, or give the ball to Childress for a one on one. It was not good when the ex-Kings can defeat the Kings, with confidence, and only 1 import and Martin, Ellis and Demos injured. It shows that a coach does make a difference.

Bevin will be wetting himself for this gig next year.

I think Wortho would be an excellent choice for the Kings coaching spot! He is so loveable. He knows and does everything better than anyone else. Wortho even helps the refs out whenever He can. Another skill of His is He can jump so high they use Him for changing light bulbs in the stadium.

James Hird? hahaha

I don't think bevo would do it.
He is doing well with Hawks and would not want to deal with the Hudsons.
He had been sounded out by them and look what happened.
Plus he had lisch wanting to play for him,why would lisch want to go to Kings.
Also Penney wanted to play for him as wellabd look how white,ellis and Weekes are going.
So it is obvious he has players wanting to play for him unlike players not wanting to rush to the kings if timmy is selecting players.

So much for Cotter having support from the board till end of season.
Hiw many times do we hear that in sport.
I feel sorry for Cotter.

The decision isn't attracting much support on social media:

Josh Childress:

It's extremely disappointing to have this happen. @damiancotter is a good coach and a good man.

Sydney Kings fired Cotter already? Horrible decision......

Has Kings Chairman PHIL Hudson had 5 GMs & 4 coaches in his 6th season running the club? Is this right? 1 playoff? #Leadership#Vision#NoIdea

Sadly, @SydneyKings coach @damiancotter has confirmed the club has "let him go". Dreadful decision by a bunch of micro-managing muppets.

@boti_nagy @damiancotter just incredibly disappointing. All I can do is shake my head.

Amazed @damiancotter wasn't allowed to coach out remainder of contract (ROS). Only had Chill for 2 games this season & Thornton is McRae 2.0

In @NBL the rule remains those who pay the bills have final say. I respect that but am shattered for @damiancotter - deserved better #NBL16

While I didn't think he had enough control over the team's play, I reckon the problem was not the coach.

Sydney culture and expectations are too much like LA's, and the ownership & management seem to me to be working too much against ANY coach of the Kings.

Good luck to the replacement.

If the old saying that effort often beats skills, and attitude beats them both is right, then at least getting their heads right will make an improvement

I think Hammer nailed it.

If this decision contributes to Childress not returning then it is an epic f**k up.

Kings need to have a major rethink, not just think boning the coach is going to solve everything. They can't afford another year with a dud 2nd import and a poorly assembled roster.

With Markovic if he wasn't injured I could understand bringing in Thornton. I think a problem however is having four small guards - Markovic, Cadee, Carter and Thornton. I would preferred a 2/3 instead of a combo to Thornton - I'm sure Cotter would've.

Be interesting to see what Cotter does next.

4 Coaches in 6 seasons now for the Kings.

Having the great Adrian Hurley as a mentor on the Kings roster certainly hasn't helped.
Do they sack him too or keep him on to mnerntoir the nbew head coach.

yeah, Hurley has been a mentor ever since Cotter took the job, it doesn't seem to have helped, and wasn'tthe Thunderbirds assistant supposed to be a guru at something when he was signed as well?

People saying that Cotter is a good guy and a great coach and not to blame need to provide some proof I think that Cotter was actually a good coach and what he actually did that made a difference, as there are plenty of examples of him not having a clue... Poor subs, unstructured team on the court, no defensive mindset, team regularly breaking down and losing leads, but where can we say "oh look what he did there, that's some really good coaching"? I'm serious, there's been no stretch of time that we can look at the Kings team since he's been coaching and go "we can attribute this to the good coaching of Cotter and what he's injected into the team..."

While your agreement is appreciated, Anon, (and shows that anons CAN be pretty cluey!) that's not to say that the management haven't done anything wrong and there aren't really huge problems that need to be fixed at ownership/management levels...

fridays game will be very interesting. We should see some evidence showing if the sacking of Cotter was the correct decision.

you must be joking, how?
the new coach has had less than a week as "head coach"
yea he has been around the team, but hasnt been able to implement his stuff (offensive and defensive systems)
As much as Cairns are the dominating force of the league they have their structures in place and are cruising along

lolball. the kings have played with no effort in defense. I hope to see more effort. A new coach can get that in a wk. It is all round effort that needs improving before the structures.

AJ 2 rebounds last game. A new coach in a wk can make it clear an improvement is required.

Offense was very one out. A new coach in a wk can work on sticking to team structure and get an improvement.

One wk with a new coach should see an improvement if the fault of the poor performance lay with Cotter.

I wonder who the Kings Management are going to blame next? Will Joe Connelly be replaced in a few weeks if he doesn't get the wins they want? Or will the Kings Management ride the season out with the replacement coach if they stay languishing on the bottom of the ladder?

The driver of the bus (whether it's Cotter or Donnelly) can't be the problem if all their passengers are playing by themselves in the back of the bus. At training, the team trains and plays as a team; in game situations, a rush of blood to the head seems to take the team structure out of the equation and the players play a one on one style of play.

What the players are told to do, and what they actually do on court is the problem. You may say this is the coach's fault, but it's not his head that is suffering the rush of blood to it.

If you have faith in your players (and Cotter had that faith) then it is up to the players to reward that faith by doing what Cotter asked them to do. Regardless. Without question. Therein IMO lies the problem.

The players get paid regardless of the job they do. Why not put them on performance bonus rather than a fixed salary. Perhaps that incentive will have them listening to the coach and actually trying to implement his directions.

For all of the armchair critics out there let them (as Childress said) walk a mile in the shoes of those guys who are trying their guts out for the Kings. If the armchair critics are such great coaches and if they don't suffer any injuries to their bodies that they didn't ask for, let them be the first people to step up to the plate.

Oh, and let them be the first ones to cop a serve from all of us who don't know how to coach or to play like these guys do. See if they like being criticised.

Damian Cotter, go you good thing. You were dealt a shitty hand and if someone can lie to your face one day and then push the knife into your back the next day, you are better off not being involved with the Kings. You are a great coach. You know it and I know it. A lot of people know it.

@JoshChildress, you were the best thing to happen to the NBL and the Kings in a long time. Sorry you keep getting injured but someone hacking at your hands and roughing you up some, does not help. Don't let the bastards get you down. And thanks for being a great player and a gentlemen in the league.

@DamianCotter, one door closes ... another one opens; you and Childress should open a business together and leave the naysayers to eat your dust.

I wonder who the Kings Management are going to blame next?