Eagles will not fly nest

Jun 30 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

FAB Flournoy is confident the Newcastle Eagles will be able to retain the majority of last season’s treble-winning roster – but says they will not break the bank to bring them back.

The Eagles have had initial discussions with most of the players who helped them top the League and notch trophy and BBL play-off successes during a memorable campaign and have received verbal assurances that most of them want to stay in the North East.

But Flournoy is aware that the success of last year’s exciting team will mean the likes of Tafari Toney and Reggie Jackson, both signed as rookies last year, will be attracting serious interest from elsewhere.

In addition some players may be looking for a salary bump after helping the Eagles win three of the BBL’s four major trophies – a justified request but also a big ask at time when most sports clubs are tightening their belts.

Flournoy hopes to work something out with all of last year’s stars but insists that the club’s power brokers must be responsible as they go about building a team to try and maintain their dominance of the BBL. “I spoke to the guys before I left and was very honest with them. They seemed interested in coming back and we’ll follow it up soon,” he said.

“The relationship that I have with all of them is based on honesty and trust and I hope that pays off. They know that I want to keep them here.

“But this is the time of the year when sport and business are combined and the economic crisis makes things very difficult this year.

“We have to make sure that the club is in good shape and is successful on and off the field – and that means making sure we handle things correctly at this time of year.”

The biggest question marks probably surround the future of Toney, who will join up with the Great Britain squad for a training camp later in the summer.

Flournoy believes the all-action forward would be better served continuing his education at the Eagles rather than departing for one of the bigger European leagues – and will make that point to his fellow New Yorker when he returns from his summer break.

“Some are getting offers from other clubs but at the same time I know we’re going to be able to make tempting offers to them as well,” he said.

“Money is important but there’s nothing that can beat the feeling of being in a winning team. We had a good spirit among the guys last year, they helped each other along and helped each other develop.

“That’s what we’re trying to bring back next year. It will be different again next year and difficult too because teams will want to knock us off the top. Teams will want to beat us and we have to be ready for that.”