KELLY KEEN TO STAY
CAIRNS Taipans coach Mike Kelly says everything is looking positive for him to extend his stay with the Far North NBL club into next season.
The former Melbourne United assistant originally signed with the Snakes for two seasons at the start of the 2018-19 campaign.
Kelly’s first season in charge had its troubles, winning the wooden spoon with a 6-22 record.
But the club have bounced back strongly in his sophomore season, recruiting a much more competitive roster and are now in the box seat to return to the finals for the first time in three seasons.
The 52-year-old said following training on Tuesday at the Fish Tank that conversations with the Snakes’ hierarchy had not progressed far during the season, but initial discussions were encouraging.
“Everything has been really good from the club, we have not gone any further, but it has not ever been anything but positive,” Kelly said.
“I love it here.
“We are going in the right direction as a club. So we will see what happens.”
Cairns are 13-10 on the season and currently in third place on the NBL ladder.
Kelly’s Taipans will be looking to lock in their finals position with a win over SEM Phoenix this Sunday afternoon on the road.
During the team’s long losing streak last season, the club’s board threw their full support behind Kelly.
At the time, Taipans president Troy Stone backed Kelly to be the Far North club’s longterm mentor after just nine games in charge in his first season at the helm.