Basketball: Outbursts at heart of Green fight

By PETER JESSUP

Complaints from Australian opposition about Breakers coach Jeff Green's courtside behaviour brought about his sudden removal from the team at the weekend.

The Breakers went into their game against West Sydney on Saturday unsure who was coaching them.

Confusion reigned from late Friday, when head coach Jeff Green suggested that he had been sacked.

The management denied this, but later agreed it was in a dispute with Green which is to go before the employment tribunal next month.

Only one hour before the game at the North Shore Events Centre, Green stepped up to the media to say he was stepping aside for the good of the team, but that he was far from finished with the franchise.

No one is detailing the issues, but there are hints that it came about after the 45-year-old displeased Australian NBL officials and some Breakers management with his court-side behaviour.

Green, who has a history of judicial appearances in the New Zealand domestic league for abusing officials and fans, was the subject of repeat complaints about "sledging" of opposition players.

The real surprise is the reaction of Breakers' management, which was well aware of Green's background when it signed him.

The progress to the employment tribunal suggests the management believes it has followed correct procedure in disciplinary matters - three warnings and you are out - and that Green has not responded to those and is therefore up for dismissal.

The franchise management steadfastly denies that the argument has to do with the club's miserable start, now two wins from 10 after the Razorbacks beat them 103-95.

Obviously the management feels comfortable that Green's assistant, Frank Arsego, is capable of stepping straight in.

Breakers general manager Peter Chapman issued a statement declaring that Green's decision was made on his own volition "for the betterment of the club" and "for that he has our admiration."

But the cause was off-limits.

"All I can say is that the Breakers have high professional standards and we expect those standards to be adhered to and followed by every member of the organisation - whether they be the front receptionist through to the general manager.

"And when people may differ or present that sort of image, then the organisation will move to make sure that those sort of things don't happen again."

Chapman suggested that the franchise was prepared to continue with Green as coach until he made his decision to step down.

"It was never ever a situation of trying to remove someone - it was a situation of protecting the fundamentals of this organisation, which is just a baby and it's going to grow up and be a strong adult very quickly.

"Up until an hour before tip-off, we didn't know who would be head coach for the game - so it created incredible pressure for the players and I thought they showed a lot of professionalism.

"I believe that our players were under as much pressure as I ever saw exerted on any other team in my life," Chapman said after the Breakers let a 56-42 halftime lead slip away.

Before the game, Green said the club deserved more than to be dragged into disruption. "The players deserve more than me coming back under a legal issue, I don't want to see it disintegrate under a legal issue."

Green said he had helped build the organisation and wasn't about to walk away. Appearing unconcerned, he joked that he might be ticket-seller, hot-dog seller or floor sweeper.

He had no problems with owners Michael Redman and Dallas Fisher. But the friendship may depend on how the dispute pans out. A messy argument about compensation could end it.

Word from inside the camp is that management will not back down, so Green's coaching days at the Breakers appear to be over.