THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604120754
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
John Brophy apparently will remain the Hampton Roads Admirals' head coach next season - if Blake Cullen remains as owner.
But whether Cullen retains the team he has owned for seven years remains iffy. Cullen says he has not put the team up for sale, but sources say two local groups will submit written bids to buy the team on Monday.
The two groups:
Mark Garcea and Page Johnson, co-owners of the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team and minority investors in the Norfolk Tides baseball team.
An investment group headed by Ken Young, president of the Tides.
Young and Johnson declined to speculate on whether they will make an offer, but did acknowledge they would be interested in the Admirals if Cullen is willing to sell.
Cullen reportedly is willing to sell for about $3 million - $1 million more than the cost of an ECHL expansion franchise. He said he must complete any sale well before May 27, when league meetings are to be held in Biloxi, Miss. A new ownership group would have to be approved by the ECHL's board of governors.
Sources say Cullen briefly considered replacing Brophy after the Admirals finished 32-27-14, their worst record since their inaugural season, and were ousted from the first round of the playoffs in three straight games by Richmond.
Since winning back-to-back ECHL titles under Brophy in 1991 and 1992, the Admirals have been beaten in the playoffs three times in the first round and once in the second.
Attendance declined this season about 500 per game to an average of 6,924, the team had a record number of no-shows, and Brophy was embroiled in controversy after an episode at Scope in which a fan alleged the fiery coach tossed a hacksaw blade at him.
Prior to Thursday, Cullen had not commented publicly about Brophy's status other than to say it would be resolved when they met to talk about next season. That conversation occurred Thursday morning, 12 days after the Admirals were eliminated from the playoffs.
``I think John will be coaching the club'' next season, said Cullen, who hired Brophy in 1989 shortly after purchasing the Admirals as an ECHL expansion franchise. ``He's the most loyal, dedicated person I've ever been involved with in sports. If nothing else, he certainly deserves another opportunity to right the ship.''
Brophy, who came to the Admirals after being fired as head coach of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, acknowledged that he had been concerned about his status for next season and expressed relief with Cullen's decision.
``I'm very glad to hear that,'' he said. ``We had a bad year; I want to have the chance to have a good one next year.''
Whether he would have that chance under new ownership remains unknown. Young and Johnson would not speculate on who the coach would be if they purchased the team. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Admirals coach John Brophy will likely be back, if Blake Cullen
doesn't sell the team.
by CNB