Newcastle Eagles hoping to lure Trey Moore
Jul 27 2010 by Mark Douglas, The Journal
NEWCASTLE Eagles want to bring Trey Moore back for a second spell on Tyneside.
Bringing in another point guard is a key priority for the Eagles and Moore, who can play that position as well as a number of others, is one of their top targets as they look to bring in fresh faces for their defence of the BBL title.
The 6ft 4ins guard ended last season playing for the Everton Tigers and made an immediate impact on Merseyside, turning in two virtuoso performances in the play-off semi-finals to end the Eagles’ treble dreams and help the Tigers win some silverware.
He is now a free agent, though, and with the Eagles feel his experience and scoring ability will help some of the younger players that Newcastle are hoping to blood through this season.
The Journal understands that contact has been made with Moore’s representatives but any move is still in it’s early stages. There is no doubt that a move for the 33-year-old Moore would boost their chances of winning a fourth straight title. His figures in the BBL are phenomenal – he averaged over 20 points a game for the Cheshire Jets and the Eagles, and was top scorer in last season’s play-off final against the Glasgow Rocks.
Head coach Fab Flournoy will have no cause for concern over Moore’s attitude, which was flawless during his first spell in the Eagles.
Indeed managing director Paul Blake and Flournoy did not want to lose Moore in the first place, but budget cuts meant that they could not make the Houston-born star an adequate offer for his services. Moore has enjoyed an illustrious BBL career, winning trophies with the Jets, the Eagles and the Tigers over the last seven years.
He is the only man to win the BBL’s Most Valuable Player accolade twice and despite an unfulfilling stint in China last year he would be one of the league’s star men if he returned to Tyneside.
The Eagles are still in the early stages of finalising their roster for next season but uncertainty still surrounds the position of star man Drew Sullivan, who has been linked with a move to arch rivals Everton.
Sullivan wants to sign for the Eagles and has dropped his wage demands and secured some sponsorship to help make it happen but Newcastle are yet to tie him down to a new deal.
And with the Eagles still working out where best to spend their player budget next year, Tigers coach Tony Garboletto has sensed an opportunity and made contact with GB skipper Sullivan.
Any move is unlikely until Sullivan has fulfilled his GB commitments, which include the August 8 home game with Macedonia at Northumbria University’s new arena, and Blake says Newcastle are still interested in him.
“I would still personally like to see Drew at the club and I don’t think that will ever change,” he said.
“However the team decisions are with Fab and his coaching staff. I’m confident, as always, that they will do what is best for the team.
“Fab has 100% of my support, he has won 13 trophies at the club and I have absolutely faith that he will make the right decision for the Eagles.”
If the Eagles lose Sullivan it would be a sizeable blow, especially with another key man Stewart looking unlikely to return.
Flournoy admitted last week that he was not expecting the experienced forward to come back to the North East.
