Basketball: Two Birmingham players get the bullet
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Your support makes all the difference.THE TRAUMA continues at Birmingham Bullets where coach Mike Finger sacked two of his players on Christmas Eve, just a week after the Basketball League took control of the club from its' former owner Harry Wrublewski. Bullets go into tomorrow's Budweiser League game against Leicester City Riders at the NEC without American Chuck Guittar and the former England International Mark Considine.
Finger said: "I want the team to win more than anything, but I'm not going to have anyone on my side who is not 100 per cent committed to the Bullets. There have been times this season when we looked as though we lacked heart on court. The majority of the players know how much this club means to its fans and feel just as committed themselves. I needed to make sure we are all of that mind. When you are in a tight situation that can mean the difference between a win and a loss."
Last season Birmingham were league runners-up and went on to win the play-offs at Wembley, but this season they are only fifth after nine wins and seven defeats.
Uncertainty over the club's future ended last week when Mr Wrublewski announced his imminent return to Australia. The League will handle club affairs until a new owner is found for the franchise, one of the most financially stable, best supported and attractive in the league.
Finger said: "The new board have given me the go-ahead to look for replacements, and I want guys who can prove to me they have enough heart and commitment to call themselves a Birmingham Bullet."
Another player with an unwelcome Christmas surprise was Brad Wedel, who was ditched by Edinburgh Rocks to make way for American Michael New, who previously played for coach Jim Brandon at Manchester Giants.
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