Major basketball association under fire

“Petty politics” is threatening to tear apart one of Melbourne’s biggest basketball associations, which is losing money and reeling from the sacking of three high-profile coaches, sudden board resignations and a player exodus.

Brendan Joyce coaching the Opals V Japan in 2015. Picture: Ian Wilson

One of Melbourne’s biggest basketball associations is in turmoil, with four board members quitting this fortnight amid claims “petty politics” has “torn to bits the whole guts of the place”, seen high-profile coaches sacked and forced a player exodus.

The Southern Basketball Association, which has about 3500 junior and 1700 senior players, has come under scrutiny for alleged mismanagement, financial strain, fee hikes and a sudden drop in rankings.

Three high-profile coaches have been sacked and its president and three other board members recently quit, leaving just three remaining board members.

Brendan Joyce, a former coach of the Australian Opals and assistant coach of the Australian Boomers, was made redundant last August, as were experienced coaches Bill Runchy and NBA star Andrew Bogut’s former mentor Sinisa Markovic.

Andrew Bogut (pictured)’s former mentor Sinisa Markovic was let go by the SBA in August last year.

The association, which posted a $67,000 loss last financial year, is also facing legal action in the Supreme Court after being sued by a coach and former sponsor for defamation.

A masterplan for four new courts at its major centre on Tulip St, Cheltenham, could now be put on hold due to a lack of funds.

And senior players from its second-tier national NBL1 league club Sandringham Sabres have gone elsewhere as the women’s team spiralled from finals last year to 15th on the ladder and the men languish on the bottom of the ladder.

The exodus of young talent also means the junior arm of the Sabres has seven teams — down from nine — playing in this year’s Victorian Junior Basketball League VC Division.

It’s understood five of these teams remain in the top 10 in the state.

Joyce, who coached the Opals at the 2016 Olympics and to a bronze medal at the 2014 World Championships, said being pushed out the door was not a surprise after months of frustration.

He said the discord started when board changes occurred in December 2017.

MORE: COUNCIL SPENDS $6K ON TREES IT CAN’T PLANT

EPA ISSUES ALERT OVER HAMPTON PARK TIP

LEADER COMMUNITY NEWS AND HERALD SUN SUBSCRIPTION OFFER

“We were told (our sacking) was about finances and restructuring,” he said.

“The first year was great but all of a sudden, you had people on the board ... making decisions, taking control, overriding our decisions, and it all started to fall apart.”

It’s understood there is now only one qualified coach with a Level 2 qualification working at the association.

And with at least five national and state juniors — and several other players — leaving the association, Joyce said it was disappointing to see such a strong community club go backwards so quickly.

“The future is under threat, but as fast as it falls, you can bring it up again with the right people,” he said.

“There are lots of good kids and lots of good parents, so they need change quick and a clean up to start again because it’s too good of an association.”

Melbourne United training at Sandringham Basketball Stadium in Cheltenham. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

A parent, who did not want to be named, said he pulled his high-ranking son out of the association after seven years because “all the pathways were gone”.

“It took five or six years to get the quality coaches and a great thing going, and now the whole thing has disintegrated,” they said.

“How tragic the whole guts of the place was torn to bits and now the board members have quit.

“They’re playing with kids lives here … and put in jeopardy the whole masterplan for extra courts.”

A fellow parent of an elite junior who plays college basketball in the US, said he’d also moved his son to Dandenong Rangers after the SBA “stopped investing in elite basketball”.

“Basketball should be No.1, but it seems to be about a lot of other things there now,” he said.

“They had talent but it’s all gone now and my son quickly realised there was no point in going there to train if it wasn’t against the best.”

Life member Frank Russo said the association’s biggest priority should not be “petty politics” but its future, building new courts and keeping costs down so basketball was affordable for everyone.

The association announced in August last year that Melbourne United had also stopped training at its Sandringham courts to move to a “larger facility”.

Peter Ryan, who has resigned as president due to a “change in personal circumstances (and his) private business arrangements”, said in last year’s annual report that 2018 had been a “transitional year” for the association.

NBL Melbourne Tigers’ Mark Worthington at the Cheltenham centre. Picture: Colleen Petch.

He said the year had strengthened foundations, “renewed involvement of member clubs and life members”, and seen junior and senior participation grow at all levels.

“The board … continues to focus on delivering (their new) mission, ‘to be a recognised and respected sporting association that is the destination of choice for basketball in our region’,” he said in the annual report.

“The board believes by adhering to our values and working on our five pillars, we are on the right path to fulfilling this mission.”

The 2018 annual report stated last year’s financial loss was “reflective of a year that involved many challenges” and “changes to the business structure”.

Treasurer Dean Cartwright said in the report that the increase in costs included $81,500 in redundancies of coaches and the former chief executive, $28,700 in legal fees, interim chief executive costs of $29,000 and increased cost of sales of $32,000.

Basketball Victoria spokesman Jarrod Potter declined to comment on whether Basketball Victoria would be taking over the association amid the chaos, but said it would “continue to support (it) and its members.”

“Basketball Victoria will not comment further on this matter at this stage,” he said.

Bayside recreation and infrastucture director Steven White said the council was working with association representatives on the design of the four new courts and jointly advocating for funding.

The association’s administration has not returned the Leader’s calls, messages and emails.