BASKETBALL
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Gordie McLeod has broken his silence over his shock exit from the Wollongong Hawks, insisting his decision had nothing to with money.
McLeod informed the Hawks on Monday that he would not be taking up the club’s offer to return for a seventh season as coach.
After declining to comment earlier in the week, McLeod opened up on Friday about his uncertain future in the coaching business.
Contrary to speculation he was ‘‘pushed’’ out the door at the Hawks, McLeod said the choice was his alone.
And while he obviously didn’t always share the same philosophies and beliefs with those of management, the 58-year-old did not leave the club with a bad taste in his mouth.
‘‘Money wasn’t an issue and there’s no bitterness,’’ McLeod said.
‘‘The sadness about it is that this club has obviously been a huge part of my life and I was hoping to be at the club in whatever capacity that could be, but things don’t always work out the way you hoped. Now the journey changes direction again and that’s where the focus has to be now.’’
McLeod was a member of the original Hawks team in 1979, playing nine seasons with the club.
He signed on as Wollongong’s coach in 2009 and had visions of seeing out his career in his home town.
But the club’s move to private ownership in 2014 and its recent voluntary administration issues led McLeod to believe his time was up at the Hawks.
‘‘Over the past 12 months a lot of things happened at the club, especially the VA process,’’ he said.
‘‘The transition from community ownership to private ownership has been hard and I no longer feel that my values and those of the club are in alignment. In those circumstances it’s appropriate that I move on.’’
Coaching and teaching the game is in McLeod’s blood and he has every intention of staying involved in basketball, whether it’s the NBL or junior development.
‘‘That’s my passion. It’s what I love to do,’’ he said.
‘‘The development side of things I really enjoy, and the team environment and preparing to go to battle is something I really enjoy.
‘‘Being an older gentleman I have a little bit of experience which I’ve gained along the way and hopefully I can put that to good use in another organisation or system if the opportunity arises. I would definitely like to, but when you’re getting to my stage a lot of those opportunities might not be there. That’s why this decision was extremely hard, but one I felt that I needed to make.’’
Ever the realist, McLeod is prepared to look for work outside of basketball.
‘‘If it’s in basketball, great, but if it’s mowing lawns or pulling beers or labouring, I need to work,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ll definitely be out there looking for something.’’
McLeod acknowledged the countless friends he has made in basketball.
‘‘I’d really like to thank the players, past and present, coaches, staff and the people of the Illawarra region for their support, not only over this last six years, but for everything they did putting me on my journey and helping me stay on that journey,’’ he said.
‘‘The support I’ve had is fantastic and I really appreciate it. Words really can’t do justice to the gratitude I feel to those people. A special thank you to my close friends and family and my partner Flory, for their help and support during this obviously very difficult time.
‘‘I really appreciate the support from the region. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up with them down the track.’’