Leven in trouble over bust-up

May 5 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

AUSTRALIAN Steve Leven is facing club disciplinary action after a dressing-room bust-up during Newcastle Eagles’ miserable finals weekend.

The Tynesiders crashed out of the BBL Championship Play-offs in the semi-finals after losing 72-63 to the Milton Keynes Lions on Saturday. And three-point specialist Leven stirred controversy with an early exit from Birmingham that capped their woeful weekend.

He launched a verbal attack that included stinging comments directed at the Tynesiders’ roster selection and was then at the centre of an off-court row. Leven was not selected in the starting five for yesterday’s third-place play-off and, when asked if he was fit to play, he complained of a back injury.

When he did not take his place on the bench after the break, managing director Paul Blake spent the best part of 30 minutes in deep discussions, eventually ending with Leven promptly exiting the National Indoor Arena before the final whistle.

Eagles assistant coach Billy Spragg denied there was a physical altercation, and player-coach Fabulous Flournoy confirmed Leven could now face in-house disciplinary action. “The thing with Steve, I have no comment on it,” said Flournoy, who had struggled with gastric flu over the weekend. “It’s a situation that happened off the court, and one I’m not fully aware of because I’ve been in and out with the doctor.

“I’ve got an idea of what has been said and we will handle everything in-house. It’s the end of the season and a lot of emotions are running high. Steve is quite colourful guy at the best of times. He has a lot of positives and a couple of negatives.”

Leven picked up almost 33 minutes of court time and scored a game-high 19 points in the Eagles’ semi-final defeat. But with his contract due to expire today, his future at the Tyneside club remains uncertain.

The disagreement came only 24 hours after Leven gave a post-match interview in which he blasted the BBL and the Eagles team selection process.

“Maybe some of them couldn’t handle the big occasion but if that’s the case then they should seriously consider their future careers,” the straight-talking Australian said of his team-mates. “In terms of basketball the BBL Play-off semi-finals are not a big occasion. This is just another game.

“Fab as a coach might have to play people on performances and not on past reputations. You’re only as good as your last game. Some of the guys have to come in and know their limitations. I am only giving an honest assessment of what I saw. If the question is asked I’m not going to sugar-coat it.”

Spragg, who was temporarily put in full command of the team, denied the confrontation ended in blows. He said: “When I asked Steve to go on I was not aware of him having a back injury. I told him I was not happy I had not been told. Hence I took the decision to come out to the second half without him.”

Milton Keynes were beaten 100-88 by Guildford Heat in yesterday’s play-off decider.