Council lifeline saves endangered Snakes
THE Cairns Taipans have been given an 11th-hour lifeline to play in the "new National Basketball League" after the Cairns Regional Council agreed to provide the club's $1 million guarantee.
A special council meeting was held yesterday morning just hours before Basketball Australia's meeting last night to decide the make-up of the revamped competition.
"The decision about the guarantee was critical because if we walked away from this meeting without the guarantee, the Taipans would have stopped existing as of now," Taipans president Denis Donaghy said after the meeting.
Under the agreement, which was voted against by councillors Rob Pyne and Julia Leu, the council will be the team's guarantor for the next three years.
A resolution asking for two councillors to sit on the Taipans board is likely to be accepted by the sitting committee.
Cairns Mayor Val Schier said the decision was ultimately the "death knell" or "life buoy" of the team.
"They are our only national team and they promote the area and contribute to economic gain in what is a very difficult time," she said.
Cr Schier said the council took ratepayers money seriously and said councillors did not want to vote for the backing if they thought it was a risk.
Cr Leu voted against the decision saying the council was under pressure on its budget and the move was inconsistent with the council's policy on loans.
"I could not put ratepayers money at risk," she said.
Mr Donaghy said surveys for season ticket members, corporate box meetings and meetings with major sponsors indicated that budgets presented to the council would not require the guarantee ever to be called.
He said a new salary cap would be policed and bring sensibility back into the league, stopping "dutch auctions" for players.
Mr Donaghy said the team also had a strict budget.
Taipans player Aaron Grabau said he hoped the National Basketball League could get back to the grass roots of basketball and start attracting larger crowds.
The proposed salary cap for teams of next year's NBL is $1.2 million, inclusive of cars and superannuation.
Sports Minister Phil Reeves is expected to announce State Government support this week.
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Deal!: Mayor Val Schier shakes on the bank guarantee that will help the Taipans. From left are general manager Mark Beecroft, Denis Donaghy and player Aaron Grabau.
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