Taipans axe Black

Cairns Taipans have reportedly sacked coach Alan Black in an effort to remain afloat in the NBL this season.

Just days after high-class imports Dave Thomas and Larry Abney were axed and other players and coaching staff forced to take a 45 percent pay cut, the Taipans dumped Black in another cost-cutting measure after the club was placed in administration last week.

According to a report in the Cairns Post, Black said the news of his sacking was 'shattering' after being informed of the decision at 5pm on Monday.

"Particularly given the Gold Coast (win) and the highs of that and how well we jelled and how well we played," he told the paper.

"It sort of capped off three or four weeks that I’d rather forget."

The Taipans' KPMG-appointed administrators Tony Jonsson and Gerry Mier were quoted as saying that the decision 'is a disappointing one but necessary in the circumstances'.

"It has been determined by the administrators that it is not financially viable to offer Alan Black, as head coach, a contract of employment during the administration of the company," a release from the administrators said.

Assistant coach Mark Beecroft is expected to take over the reins for the remainder of the season.

Black, who played 244 games with Nunawading and Perth, has twice won the NBL's coach of the year award and won the championship as coach of the Wildcats in 1999/2000.

He joined the Taipans in 2005/06 and took the club to its first ever semi-final appearance. He repeated the feat a season later.

The Taipans fought back from their tough week with a remarkable overtime win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night that ended a seven-game losing streak.

Cairns faces the third-placed Melbourne Tigers on Wednesday night at the Cairns Convention Centre.