SULLIVAN SAYS MERSEY REMAIN UNITED
- Updated: March 8, 2011
Mersey Tigers captain Drew Sullivan says the club’s financial adversity is spurring the players onward – to a potential treble.
Victory in the BBL Trophy final last weekend proved an emotional moment for the Great Britain skipper whose decision to move to Merseyside last summer has been called into question following the cash crisis that has engulfed the Liverpool side.
It is understood that a number of players – Sullivan and Nate Reinking included – have been approached through their agents in recent weeks as details emerged that their wages had not been paid.
However, no-one has left. And the Tigers remain in the hunt for more silverware despite their off-court woes.
“You can’t tell me that under these circumstances, most teams normally wouldn’t have gone: ‘screw it, I’ll go home or I’ll find another job,’” said Sullivan, who was named as the final’s Most Valuable Player.
“Everyone has probably thought about making a move but everyone has stayed. We wanted to win here and we’re happy about that and winning as a group.
“Hopefully, we can continue to win and all the off-court stuff will take care of itself.”
It has added another awkward dynamic into the mix for head coach Tony Garbelotto, whose long-time assistant Diego Fernandez has departed and returned to Spain.
And although his side are well-placed to challenge for the BBL title, he admits the issues are stacking up.
“We still don’t know at this minute where we’re going to play our next home game,” Garbelotto revealed.
Mersey were forced to cancel Monday’s scheduled meeting with Newcastle due to a lack of venue and with the Echo Arena and Manchester’s Amaechi Centre understood to have be unavailable, officials are working to ensure their packed fixture list will be fulfilled.
The Tigers are due to host Worthing this Friday. As yet, their home is TBC.
It makes it tough, says Garbelotto. Some days are better than others. If only, he adds, the resolution of his players could be fully rewarded.
“I don’t know a group of people – and I say people, not players – who would have taken what has happened to them and continued going through the season,” he said.
“And that was the case before the Cup final as well.”
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