NBL’s Townsville Crocodiles go into voluntary administrationBOTI NAGY THE ADVERTISER MARCH 11, 2015 9:11AM SHARE
THE Townsville Crocodiles have joined the Wollongong Hawks in voluntary administration, blaming NBL management for having no clear direction for its floundering league.
The Crocs released a statement claiming there still was hope for the club’s future but it could make no resolutions without knowing where the NBL was headed.
Without an active chief executive officer since last year and with chairman Graeme Wade still new in the job, the NBL is in freefall, its expansion plans in disarray and its administration lurching from one disaster to another.
“This has been a truly devastating decision for the board to make,” Crocs chairman Darren Finlay said in a statement before his board members broke the news to the playing list this evening.
“However it does not spell the end for the Crocodiles.
“This is a necessary and important step in the process of rebuilding the Crocodiles for the future and provides some breathing space while the NBL finalises its plans for the 2015-16 season.”
The Crocodiles, who last season moved from the Townsville Entertainment Centre to the Townsville RSL Stadium’s smaller 2200-capacity, have appointed Moira Carter of BRI Ferrier as administrator.
The Crocodiles planned to return to the TEC and had developed a sustainable business plan and budget.
However the NBL has been unable to provide clarity regarding the number of teams in the competition or what next season will even look like.
At one stage the league “guaranteed” a new team in Brisbane, which would have taken the NBL to nine teams.
That looks dead though with no further word on it since January and last month the Hawks went into administration leaving clubs bewildered as to whether there will be a six, seven, eight or nine-team league in 2015-16.
“As a result, the (Townsville) club has been unable to go to sale for the next season,” the Crocs’ statement said.
“Without additional funding coming in, the board has no alternative but to place the company into voluntary administration.”
Several NBL general managers only learnt of Townsville’s decision today through social media, again reflecting the parlous state of the league.
(Originally published as Crocs follow Hawks into administration)
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