Basketball: Breakers coach safe for now, says Green

Former Breakers coach Jeff Green. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Breakers coach Frank Arsego may be granted a temporary stay of execution, but he will not be at the helm next season, his predecessor says.

The Breakers are wallowing in 11th and last place in the Australian NBL, their hopes of reaching the top-eight playoffs barely registering a pulse.

Despite their parlous position, Arsego should still lead the time-out talks in the remaining 10 games, former Breakers coach Jeff Green said yesterday.

"The organisation aren't going to panic. It's a matter of economics," Green said. "For them to get rid of Frank they would have to pay him out, then get another coach, which is not worth the financial hassle, so I don't think they'll go down that track."

Speculation has risen that Arsego, who was Green's assistant in the Breakers debut 2003/04 season, would be axed after registering just seven wins from 22 games.

Last week Breakers general manager Peter Chapman told the Herald he could not say if Arsego and his assistant Wayne Brown would retain their jobs until the end of the season.

The Breakers' last-gasp effort relies on beating the eighth-placed Hunter Pirates tonight at Trusts Stadium in Auckland, and in their rematch on January 28.

But other results also need to fall their way to make the playoffs.

Green, who resigned from the Breakers after just 10 matches in 2003 and was locked in an employment dispute with the organisation, said Arsego would still get the chop even if they scraped into the finals.

"Frank's not doing a bad job," Green said.

"It's just that he's not doing a job that's quick enough for everyone.

"Too much water has passed under the bridge. Whether they make the playoffs or not, I don't think you'll see Frank Arsego as the Breakers coach next year."

Green said the Breakers lacked consistency and experience for a "very, very tough league".

That lack of experience also applied to the coach, and any potential successor should have vast ANBL and big match experience behind them, Green said.

Suggestions that Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin could step into the role did not sit well with Green.

"Tab's living on his world championship success. We all loved it but he's not proven in any league like this in the world.

"He's a rookie, just like Frank and I would be. That's not what the team needs."

Green said Baldwin would struggle holding both jobs with the ANBL pre-season and the international period overlapping.

"Brian Goorjian [Australia and Sydney Kings coach] does it, but he has some very good assistants and still finds it very difficult."

Chapman again refused to confirm whether Arsego would remain in charge, stating it was a matter for the board "and I don't believe they would make any comment on the matter".

He also declined to comment on whether Baldwin would make a suitable coach for the Breakers.

Baldwin said this week he would like to coach in Australia or New Zealand to keep himself "fresh" for the Tall Blacks, but confirmed he had not been approached by the Breakers.

- NZPA