Basketball: Breakers coach in wrangle

By TERRY MADDAFORD AND NZPA

Jeff Green sensationally claimed yesterday that he had been sacked from the New Zealand Breakers and would play no part in the team's NBL clash with West Sydney Razorbacks this afternoon.

Late last night, however, a team spokesman said Green was in an employment dispute with the franchise but would continue in his role for the time being.

The spokesman said a hearing of the dispute was scheduled for the Employment Relations Authority early next month.

He said Green had given an undertaking "about his future good conduct".

"No further comment will be issued on this matter."

Green and Breakers general manager Peter Chapman were locked in a marathon meeting behind closed doors last night after the club reportedly replaced Green with assistant coach Frank Arsego for the Breakers' game today at the North Shore Events Centre.

There was no hint at the team's open training session this week of any trouble for Green, who played a major part in setting up the team for their foray into the Australian league.

He has no ownership or management role with the team.

Under Green, the team have won only two of their nine games in their first NBL season, but it was unclear last night whether his predicament related to the team's on-court performance or the troubles Green has had in recent times with failed business ventures.

Green was unavailable for comment last night.

John Davey, chief executive of Waikato Basketball, with which Green has been associated, said he did not know what was going on.

He said the ructions at the Breakers did not affect Waikato basketball or the Waikato Titans. "We had already told Jeff we wished to move on about the time his company went into liquidation.

"He wished to stay with us, but when we looked at the situation, including his involvement with the Breakers, we told him it was not in the best interests of either party for him to continue with the Titans.

"We will be doing the interviews for a new coach next week."

Arsego was based in Canberra before becoming Green's assistant in May.

He ran the Australian Institute of Sport men's basketball programme between 1998 and last year, and was coach of the Australian under-20 team, who finished fifth at the 1999 world junior champs in Portugal.