THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 18, 1995 TAG: 9502180750
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines
The Norfolk Neptunes' debut in the United Football Association this spring was declared ``dead until next year'' by commissioner Robert Darling after he fired general manager Pat Reilly Friday.
Darling offered a litany of reasons for ousting Reilly - many of which Reilly vehemently denied. Darling's foremost cause in firing Reilly and delaying the Neptunes' scheduled April debut is that the team has nowhere to play.
``He told us he had a stadium for his team,'' Darling said, referring to Old Dominion University's Foreman Field. ``We called there and he doesn't. We were told there was no way the Neptunes could play there in July or August. And that's been the situation since they first spoke to Reilly.''
ODU assistant athletic director Kenny Turner, who oversees Foreman Field, was unavailable for comment Friday.
Reilly denied he told Darling he had an agreement to use Foreman Field. He said there were three regular-season conflicts with other events at the 27,000-seat stadium. He claims he was prepared to work out the details with ODU until he became suspicious of the league's financial backing.
``There began to be inklings of problems down there,'' Reilly said, meaning league headquarters in Tampa. ``As far as I can see, this gentleman presented things as fact that didn't exist.''
Reilly cited Darling's claim that Continental Airlines, Holiday Inn and American Express Travel were national corporate sponsors and had contributed a total of $270,000. Recent investigation by members of his staff, Reilly says, showed that none of those companies has a firm deal with the league.
Darling mentioned the same three companies to The Virginian-Pilot when he announced the awarding of the Norfolk franchise last September. He admitted Friday that there were no signed agreements, but added that the three are interested in becoming sponsors now that the league has an agreement with the Outdoor Channel to televise its games on taped delay.
Reilly said he was unaware of any such deal and that the more questions he asked Darling about finances, the more strained their relationship became.
Darling said Friday he fired Reilly during an afternoon telephone conversation on Feb. 9 and was furious when he discovered Reilly was still serving as GM.
Reilly admits he and Darling had a conversation in which he was told he was fired. But he says the next morning he received a package from Darling - sent overnight delivery - offering him the chance to buy the Neptunes.
``I figured if a guy fired you from the league, he wouldn't the next day ask if you wanted to buy one of his teams,'' Reilly explained.
Another reason Darling offered for firing Reilly was that the general manager did not turn over to the league the registration fees collected from athletes who tried out for the team on Jan. 13.
``He sent $1,700 and it was supposed to be between $5,000 and $6,000,'' Darling said.
Reilly said he collected the $25 fee from about 260 prospects, a total of $6,500. He sent the league $1,800, but kept the rest to cover expenses because the league refused to pay a bill from The Virginian-Pilot for an ad Reilly says he took out at Darling's command.
``I sent that money thinking it would be held in reserve for us,'' explained Reilly. ``It wasn't. He had nothing down there but what we produced - and we were farthest along of any of the other teams.
``The league told us they would pick up all expenses, and would provide things like insurance, but they don't.''
In September, Darling told The Virginian-Pilot that the league had taken out a $1 million liability policy on each member. Reilly says he can produce a recent fax from Darling that placing responsibility for insurance on the individual teams.
Reilly said there is about $3,000 in the bank, but that if he doesn't receive back the $1,800 he sent to the UFA, he will be forced to pay some expenses out of his own pocket.
Meanwhile, coach Ron Killmon found out about Reilly's firing and the team's banishment from a reporter.
``I'm just terribly disappointed, not for myself, but for the city of Norfolk and the enthusiasm they've shown,'' Killmon said. ``Knowing what it could be, to see it come and fall because of things like this. . . . I'm just very disappointed for the kids who took the time to work out, and for those who supported me.'' ILLUSTRATION: Neptunes' GM Pat Reilly was ousted because the team had nowhere
to play, the league's commissioner said. by CNB