Hawks' Future In Good Hands

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday March 29, 2007

By TIM KEEBLE

WOLLONGONG Hawks captain-in-waiting Mat Campbell has called for calm as the NBL foundation club attempts to win back support from sponsors and fans.

The Hawks face one of their most challenging periods in recent years, with players leaving and a new-look management team under pressure to keep the franchise on steady financial ground.

Athens Olympian Glen Saville severed his 13-year association with Wollongong on Tuesday and is set to join Sydney, consistent forward Adam Ballinger is Adelaide-bound and starting guard Cortez Groves is heading to the South Dragons.

Casey Frank and Dan Joyce will almost certainly be granted contract releases while the futures of Tony Rampton and John Philip remain uncertain.

Campbell and Ben Castle are the only guaranteed signings for 2007-08, leaving the club with their biggest rebuilding task in more than a decade.

Despite being disappointed to see Saville depart, Campbell is convinced the Hawks will fight their way back to respectability.

He said the team would almost certainly adopt a new playing style without Saville, but urged Wollongong followers to keep faith.

"I've sat down with management and I'm confident they're doing everything as a club to move forward and re-establish ourselves as a professional organisation, on the court and in the front office," the 30-year-old said.

"People are asking me all the time about the club and they're concerned, but I can honestly say I'm 100 per cent confident we're going in the right direction.

"It looks like there's going to be at least five or six changes to the roster and it's probably as much rebuilding the club's had to do since I got here in '96. But that could be a good thing because an injection of new blood and enthusiasm might be just what the club needs.

"We have to get the confidence of our fans and sponsors back, and this is really the time for people to help us turn this thing around and get us back up to being a top four team and a club that's respected."

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

Back to News Index | Back to Home