GM Laverick speaks to The Arizona Republic 2001-3

[Fat Nige]

The buzz in Phoenix was all about new GM Laverick’s interview that was published on the back page of The Arizona Republic. He had set out his plans for the ‘Talentless Talons’ franchise as he has started to call them, the fans knew they should be outraged at their new moniker but knew also that he was only voicing what thousands of bar discussions had already concluded.

“The fans will have to face up to the fact that many of the current Talons players and indeed many in the organisation will end their association with the franchise in 2001” The article led off “The players leaving are not particularly old, they’re not particularly overpaid but they’re not producing particularly good stats either. To change a seven year losing run takes harsh decisions, you don’t turn it around without very painful decisions. This franchise, almost from top to bottom, relies on veterans in their early thirties and it just isn’t working. Given the ballclub’s lowly position I would have expected the future to be nurturing in the farm system but despite the franchise’s good showing at all levels I think it is mainly due to veteran players pervading all levels, winning against other teams developing prospects.

The release of the veteran players will no doubt in all probability lead to an even bigger dip in the Talentless Talons standings but coupled with better drafting (and better prospect availability due to higher position in the draft), a more rational policy on free agent signings and a prudent fiscal constraint will eventually lead to the re-birth of the Talons.
A number of staff and players will be made redundant based, unfortunately, not just on their performances but on the franchise needs. There can be no sentimentality here; I’ve been brought in to do a job which won’t be pleasant. So my message to our players would be if you’re in your early thirties, playing at a replacement player level and can look around and see several other similar players at a similar level – I urge you to start looking at the jobs section of your local newspaper. You’ll be getting a rather unpleasant letter from me soon”

Early indications are that despite many pleas to phone-ins on behalf of their favourite players most of the declining fanbase (attendance is currently down 0.2% on 2000 and has fallen to around 1.8M in 2001 from 2.6M in 1995) actually agree in private that GM Laverick’s actions are the only way forward.

[aaronweiner]

Well, at least you have some kind of a farm...