Basically says that MD was on enforced leave and then was told that his position has been made redundant. He said that he was insulted by the package offered and was seeking legal action.

The article also added that Spear and Ali had resigned from the board and the acting CEO was not expecting them to return.

I heard that they left the board meeting in a pretty firey scene!

Are the two things connected?

Why hasn't there been a bit more talk about this? Two people walking off the board has to be fairly news-worthy!

Have to agree with you XY

BASA has recently lost a CEO [all other issues notwithstanding], a marketing person or 2 not yet replaced, now two basketball oriented Board members - is it starting to look like a purge or is it just 'careless'?

Ray Wood also left a few months ago.

So who is on the Sixers and BASA boards then? What exactly does he Sixers board do if its decisions can get vetoed by the BASA board? That is about as useful as the Security Council trying to make a resolution about Israel!

Interesting to note that Mark Davis says "I can't believe they dont think I can market basketball" however I am not sure I can see to much evedence of him doing a good job in his time with the club.

what has been achieved. were they just paying him a wage to keep him involved with the club for his long service as a player?

just some thoughts
He was certainly a great player but marketer? is he qualified in marketing?

i thought it was more PR role, like going around to the corporate guys. Either way something has gone down and its sad to see our past stars being treated in a bad way.

One would think Davis would be the best person to 'pitch' the product.

Companies/Corporates love stars and former stars.

Ok I doubt he has the background/credentials but I'm sure he could be teamed up with someone who does?

Many Companies being approached with a view to sponsorship may not be too familiar with Basketball and especially Basketball of yesteryear. Its not as if Basketball is a prominent sport in Australia compared to the Football. Mark Davis, whilst being a legend in the sport, may not actually be well known out in the business world. For this reason, he may not have a big impact on sponsorship. There is no denying his contribution to the sport as a player, but as a marketer, well that's a different story. I don't think the club owes him a living forever. He has had his opportunities, he has contributed in a huge way, he has been rewarded but now his services are complete.

I'm not being mean, business is business and should not get personal. We all complain about ticket prices, lack of decent entertainment, the cost of parking, the cost of food at the Dome etc. etc. Those high costs would have to offset the cost of running the club. If the club could make more money out of sponsorship, then the costs of attending games could become more affordable. If it becomes more affordable, it will attract more spectators. If it attracts more spectators it attracts more sponsors. Its a vicious circle. The club needs to find the right people that will get results.

As for Paul Bauer, he has the people skills to do the job. At the same time he is a very knowledgeable Basketball person. I think he is as good as any for the job.

Ticket prices have reduced. The cost cutting involving staff could be compensating this. I don't have the facts but it makes sense to me. I am not actually aware of staff numbers reducing, but replacements being made.

Ticket prices have NOT reduced slightly because a staff member was cut. All they've done is introduced tiered pricing because the venue wasn't filling up. The club has a loan to pay off and they're losing money each year. They're not going to cut Pudds and then think, well that saved us some money, so instead of paying off our debts (Wayville and the Dome) or trying to actually get back in the black, let's give back to the fans by reducing the cost of parking, I guarantee you.

The Tigers have something like 4 staff, yet I'm pretty sure tickets are still around $25 each in Melbourne.

I'm all for running a lean and efficient office, but I don't think it has a major impact on ticket pricing, entertainment or the cost of parking. The staff you have can be more important than the number of them.

In the past, to be honest, I've wondered if MD held a token job in the organisation, but I've seen sponsors react really positively to him after games, I've heard that he's responsible for a good percentage of the sponsors and is liked by them, and I've seen him put time into things like coaching the Indigenous Academy (or was it New Arrivals?). I also remember him getting into the spirit of things and calling up Talking Hoops I think, and he's posted on Hoops SA before -- that's proactive and supportive. I'll try and reserve my judgement.

This whole debate has gone way off track. I take responsibility for it leading to ticket prices and other cost benefits but the whole idea was whether MD should be retained on staff. Does his contribution now to admin justify his salary? I still stick to my original belief that most businesses in Adelaide do not know who Mark Davis is simply because basketball is not that well known or supported. The current sponsors who are now involved and perhaps were basketball minded, like him because they can appreciate what he has done for the sport and the significance of such a person in the sport. I don't think that support spreads far enough. The marketing job now requires someone who is good at marketing rather than an icon in the sport. He/she needs to convince potential sponsors why they should get behind the Sixers and what benefits there are to them. This takes a great marketing person not a great player.

1. What's Paul Bauer's claims to the position? Does he have a degree in marketing etc? Sure, he's doing well but the same arguments will come up about him being a former player etc, "jobs for the boys", yada yada yada (and no I'm not saying that, but perception is everything in the business world).
2. It's sad to see the club's greatest player (apologies to Brett Maher - you will be when you retire) treated in this way, regardless of reason.
3. There's a state government election coming up. C'mon people, start pitching for the loan to be written off. It's a 4000-tonne gorilla around the neck and will strangle the sport soon, if it hasn't already.

Great response, anonymous. As for a separate thread from "In the Know", ummmmm, errrrr, steering well clear of that one. Watch out or Isaac will impose another S@nders ban on the name Mark Davis (and in defense of Pud, without evidence, some of those accusations are grossly unfair).

at the end of the day.... and everything like that....

Potsie isn't "game night promoter", he's involved in working with existing sponsorship and communication. He did, however, get some people involved in a game night committee as one of the things he is doing.

AV isn't his area and it's not my area, so someone from the committee will no doubt run the idea past Glenn (who does know AV) and see what he thinks. Obviously Potsie will err on the side of "doing it properly" and not over-promising. Getting FOX replays up on the screen tonight will be something of a test too.

I think there are always more to these stories than gets published, and the truth will always be some distance from the media report, but:

1. If Mark Davis is no longer required then so be it. He needs to move on, as do the 36ers. Does he do himself any credit by going to the press?

2. Ali and Spear would seem to be bigger losses given their experience and role within the organisation. However, there appears to be little doubt the Sixers Board has major limitations to its power to effect change. Why is this so?

3. If Paul Bauer is thought to be the right person for the job then let him get on with it. However, if he is only there to run or improve game night entertainment then I hope he has a budget commensurate with that task. Will the current entertainment program add to crowds and offset his salary?

4. All the current staff losses won't change ticket prices much  why should they or how could they? Will the staff losses add revenue? Will any new staff add revenue?

I read the Sunday Mail article and I agree that Mark should move on. BASA stood by him when he disgraced himself over his drink driving performance - perhaps they had reason to move him on then!

As someone with no allegiance to anyone it does sound very much like "jobs for the boys" to me from reading these threads, nepotism rules in SA basketball!!