Forestville finally clears former captain Jess Fergus to Southern

THE Premier League basketballer at the centre of a transfer stand-off between rival clubs says she is relieved the matter has finally been resolved.

THE Premier League basketballer at the centre of a transfer stand-off between rival clubs says she is relieved the matter has finally been resolved.

Former Forestville captain Jess Fergus was last week cleared to play for Southern Tigers’ top side after a meeting between the clubs’ senior coaches and presidents.

The Eagles had initially refused to sanction the transfer, in accordance with a Basketball SA by-law, and cleared her only to Southern’s lower division teams.

Fergus, a four-time ­Forestville premiership player, chalked up three reserves games with the Tigers before making her Premier League debut on Saturday night against Eastern Mavericks.

“I’m really appreciative Forestville have changed their minds,” Fergus, 28, said.

“I’m super-excited to play and see what I can do with a different group.

“I’m relieved it’s all sorted.”

Basketball SA by-laws state once teams have transferred two players from last season’s roster, a third is ineligible to join a Premier League rival unless given approval from the parent club.

Forestville had already cleared Tara and Hannah Robinson to Southern, which finished second-bottom with a 3-15 record last season, before Fergus requested a clearance.

Fergus said she wanted to move to the Tigers for a fresh challenge, to play under coach Tracy York and because the club trained a short drive from her West Beach home.

“I’d decided I’d had 10 years at Forestville, the same coach for nine years ... and I just felt I needed a change.

“Forestville was a huge part of my life and I had some amazing opportunities there, and pretty cool success.

“I knew there was going to be some issues with the by-law ... but it wasn’t anything to do with the other girls going there, it was purely that it fit in with my life and I was enjoying it.”

Tigers president Mick Fisher said the clubs decided Fergus “should be cleared in the interests of basketball”.

“Forestville just had a change of heart and I’m grateful that they did,” Fisher said.

Eagles president Milan Djurasevich said the clubs “came to an agreement” but declined to go into details.