Terrell Brown in shock Lions exit
American won't be returning next season
Marshall Milton Keynes Lions coach Vince Macaulay has confirmed that influential point guard Terrell Brown will not be returning to the club for next season.
The 25-year-old joined Lions in 2006 and played a key role in the club's BBL Cup success of 2008. He was also one of Lions' most consistent performers in what proved a disappointing season last term and was twice named in the BBL Team of the Week.
But after seeing his side not even reach this year's British Basketball League Play-Offs, coach Macaulay admitted that it was the right time for player and club to part ways.
"Brown's been here for three years and been great for us but this time we couldn't agree the right terms," he said.
"Terrell needed to decide on what direction he wanted to go in as a professional basketball player and we couldn't wait for him for much longer. It may be that he wants to return to the United States, but whatever he does we will help him to find a new club the best we can.
"He was our point guard in the side that won this club the BBL Cup so he has certainly been a key part of our history."
Since Lions' season finished prematurely with defeat away at the Plymouth Raiders five weeks ago, Macaulay has been busy trying to build his squad for next season.
But he admits that he still hasn't made up his mind whether or not he'll still be the one coaching the side in the coming months.
"Whether or not I'll be coach next year is still undecided but I expect to make a decision by next week," he explained.
The Lions chief confessed he was again considering his role as head coach after admitting that splitting his time between coaching and his continuing responsibilities as the Lions' cheif executive may not have been working out. But now he isn't so sure.
"I said before that I would be able to decide after talking it through with my most senior players and I'm just starting to wrap that up," he said.
"It's not a case that they are trying to persuade me to stay, it's more a case of whether we can continue to work together in the best interests of Lions."
In the meantime Macaulay has been busy working to keep the spine of his side together.
The only man definitely on his way out the door so far is Brown, but Macaulay says it's possible that more will follow, and that he's already looking at replacements.
"Both Jayson Obazuaye and Tommie Eddie have new deals on the table and we'll just wait and see what they decide to do before signings anyone else up to replace them.
"But we don't have the time to sit around and wait so we'll need to know one way or the other very soon."
And Macaulay says he's just days away from being able to announce Lions' first summer signing.
"We'll almost certainly have a veteran point guard join us from another BBL club, but at the moment the contact isn't quite signed."
>> Meanwhile Lions may be just days away from being able to confirm where they'll finish next season's Championship.
Lions will start their BBL campaign at Bletchley Leisure Centre, but have faced the fear of being made homeless since their new home at arena:mk has been hit with financial set-backs.
But Macaulay is hoping that some encouraging news may be just around the corner.
"Hopefully we'll have good news in the next week or two, but at the moment I can't say.
"It's out of my hands now."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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