BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

Devan Bailey is leaving Cheshire Phoenix for the Caribbean but only after a protracted stand-off.

The Great Britain international, as MVP revealed, is joining Guadeloupe-based French League side Saint-Francois after the BBL club signed off on his release on Thursday.

It is understood to have followed a meeting of Cheshire’s board on Wednesday night in the wake of a public war of words.

Multiple sources confirmed that Bailey was called to a meeting with the coaching staff on Tuesday lunchtime and was told the club would be letting him leave, with the player himself telling me, via messaging, of his gratitude for a smooth departure.

Then this happened.

 

 

Following what was perceived by many to be a needlessly abrupt critique of a locally-born player who just might, in the future, be a desirable returnee to Cheshire, Bailey alleged that the Phoenix were dialling back on their agreement, according to a statement he posted on the team’s Facebook page, citing club chairman and principal benefactor Andrew Donaldson, team manager Andy Green and board member Deborah Nash, as well as assistant coach John Lavery.

 

Speaking to one advisor with some knowledge of BBL contracts, it would seem that the original verbal agreement that Bailey could leave would be legally binding. Although given that it involves an international transfer, FIBA could have ended up being involved if the stand-off continued.

Plus, MVP was told, if he had remained, “they would have to give him the opportunity to keep to the terms of his contract and then pay him provided he did.”

The Nix have already filled the void by landing Bulgarian international guard Simeon Naydenov who becomes their penultimate permitted overseas recruit.