Sixers put up coaching vacancy sign
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Unfazed ... Phil Smyth (File photo) (ABC News)
Adelaide 36ers head coach Phil Smyth says he has no issue with the club's decision to make his position vacant.
The 36ers made the move in light of their poor 2007/08 NBL campaign, which has seen them assume ninth position with two rounds remaining in the regular season.
Club owner Mal Hemmerling said they would look internationally for the best applicant, while also insisting Smyth could reapply.
Smyth said he was unsure whether he would consider such a move.
"I think Mal and the club have been innovative in saying, 'let's open the door and get the best person for the job'," he said.
"Now that may not be me, it may be someone else. if I decide to apply, then my application may be the best application."
Hemmerling said Smyth would be strongly considered if he chose to reapply.
"He needs to think about where he is going and we need to think about where we're going," he said.
"But certainly we would be considering an application from Phil and Steve (assistant coach Breheny), along with the other applicants for the job."
Hemmerling said he believed the 36ers could be contenders for the NBL championship next season.
"We want to keep going forward, we have taken big steps," he said.
"We thought we would be a bit further up than we actually finished, but that's the game and we've got to take the work that we put in this year and take it forward and give the team the best opportunity to go forward."
Smyth has won three NBL titles with the 36ers in 1998, 1998/1999 and 2001/2002.
