ANON12
Years ago
Brisbane Bullets GM quits
From the Fox Sports Website.
March 17, 2008
DEPARTING general manager Jeff Van Groningen denies he is deserting a sinking ship after he resigned from the embattled Brisbane Bullets.
The foundation NBL team is under threat of extinction, with millionaire businessman Eddy Groves announcing last week he is selling the club. Recruited six years ago by Groves, Van Groningen says he is leaving to pave the way for a new ownership group to put their stamp on the franchise.
"If you look at things over the past few days the players and coach are determined to stick together so I don't think anyone would see it that way," said Van Groningen. "I think what I've done is added clarity for anyone who wants to buy the Bullets that they can come in and run them how they want to run them."
Brisbane coach Joey Wright, club captain Sam Mackinnon and staff member Narelle Kelly are fronting a rescue group searching the community for a white knight to rescue the club.
Van Groningen, who was a part of the Melbourne Tigers front office for three years before being poached by Groves, said he made his decision to allow the club to go forward with a fresh new team.
He also felt if Groves was no longer going to be the owner, his time was also up.
"It's professional sport," said Van Groningen. "It's a really dynamic industry. To go six years without a major, major change in your life in professional sport is a pretty fair tenure.
"I had three years before that with the Tigers so for nine years I've been at the top of a club.
"Eddy invited me to come and run his club and he doesn't own the club and I think it's better if someone else comes in clean for whoever the new ownership group may be."
Apart from being part of Brisbane's first championship success in 20 years in 2006-2007, Van Groningen recruited a host of talent to the club including Mackinnon, this season's MVP runner-up Ebi Ere, import Dusty Rychart, Kiwi internationals Craig Bradshaw and Dillon Boucher and veteran guards Derek Rucker and CJ Bruton.
Van Groningen was keeping his options open about his next move.
"It's too early to say," he said. "But there's a few things that have been put to me over the last few years that I now have a chance to pursue," said Van Groningen, who does have some NBA aspirations.
"Basketball is something I'm pretty open minded about."
