Basketball: Crowhen won't resign over basketball debt

Basketball New Zealand chairman Peter Crowhen has no intention of resigning but will not be surprised if there are calls for him to do so because the organisation has a big debt.

Crowhen refused to put an exact figure on the deficit but denied reports suggesting BBNZ is more than $250,000 in the red.

"It is big enough, but not that big," he said.

The deficit, covering the period from October 1998 until September 1999, will be announced at BBNZ's annual meeting in Wellington on December 11.

BBNZ vice-president Barbara Wheadon has been reported as saying the Tall Ferns' international programme had not cost Basketball NZ a penny and that as a board member she was never aware of the debt.

Crowhen rejects both claims, saying BBNZ knew in July it was in difficulty and that the New Zealand women's team's programme accounts for more than half of the debt.

A huge drop in player registrations also meant significant loss of income.

"The Tall Ferns and the drop in player registrations make up all bar about 10 per cent of the deficit," he said.

Crowhen said the board knew in April it was in a hole after income from the Chinese women's tour to New Zealand in March was below budget.

BBNZ now has an office staff of three, with American Bill Eldred standing in as acting general manager.

Crowhen said BBNZ had slashed its spending, was working to cut the debt and was hopeful of signing a big sponsorship deal which would ease its financial woes.

Crowhen has been chairman for the past seven years and still has 12 months to run on his current two-year contract.

Asked whether news of the debt had triggered calls for his resignation, he said: "They don't call out 'load', they wait until they can ambush you, don't they?

"I think [resignation] has crossed every board member's mind and, yes, someone has to be accountable. If the annual meeting decide they don't want me then that is fine. But I don't walk away in the middle of a term."

Wheadon is up for re-election at the annual meeting, as are two other board members.

Crowhen said there were several nominations for the positions, including Aucklander Mark Cameron, who finished last week after two years as the national league's general manager.

- NZPA