GRIFFITH Demons coach Andrew Cullen’s future is no closer to being decided ahead of his side’s important State League basketball clash against the Bathurst Goldminers tomorrow.
At the time of print Cullen and the rest of the team were still waiting on the outcome of his appeal of a 26-week suspension for his part in a fight during a local competition game.
After their last-start loss to the Wagga Heat, the Demons were hopeful of travelling to Bathurst and putting in a solid performance to re-ignite their title campaign, after numerous long layoffs due to their draw.
But speaking to The Area News yesterday, Cullen said he just wanted to know what his future held for him, so the speculation hanging over the team can be put to rest.
“I wish they could tell me today (Thursday), either good or bad, we need to know,” Cullen said.
When asked how the team was handling the situation, Cullen admitted it was weighing on his team whether it would have its on and off-court leader involved with it for the rest of the season.
Cullen said his reason for appealing the six-month suspension levelled at him was because he wanted to see out his current term as coach in the proper fashion.
“The way it went down, I said to myself at the time that I’m walking away,” he said.
“The only reason why the appeal went in is because, one, the (Demons State League) team wanted me to and, two, I had started the season and committed to doing the season as per normal and giving 120 per cent to the program I would have liked to have seen the season through.
“That’s what I committed to and anybody who knows me, knows that I like to finish what I like I start and the commitment is around the season.
“The commitment is not around one individual on the court, it’s about me saying the team will go again under my management/coaching and I want to see it through on my terms.
“So that is the reason why the appeal went in, not because I want to play the game further and was wrongly done by.
“It went in with the support of the team wanting me to do it and me being manager/coach wanting to fulfil what I said I’d commit to at the start of the year.”