Brian Goorjian was selected to coach the Melbourne City Titans ahead of former Giants coach Brett Brown.

Giants and Magic Merge

Posted: Sat Aug 15, 1998 at 12:07 PM ET

The South East Melbourne Magic and the North Melbourne Giants officially became the 'Booze less' Victorian Titans yesterday after weeks of speculation. There were a few suprises in the details given to the media icluding the coach, venue and salary cap. Brian Goorjian will be the clubs head coach after beating out former Giants coach Brett Brown, the Titans will play at the National Tennis Centre (Melbourne Park), and they will be given a salary roof of $825,000.

Brett Brown will recieve a cash pay out for the termination of his contract, but that will be little consolation for the former Giants coach who is now without an NBL coaching job. Brown has been linked to the Cairns Taipans for the 1999 NBL season but will be sitting out the 1998 Summer season. Magic chairman Phil Wade spoke of the tough decision made by the club, "We went through a good deal of agony to appoint Brian, but we're very confident Brett will take up a job in the league." Goorjian was also sympathetic, "It's been alarming, unsettling," Goorjian said. "I'm disappointed for Brett. Being a coach is a tough profession and he has done an outstanding job." The other major issues raised in yesterdays press conference was the choice of venue and the increased cap space alloted for the Titans. Melbourne Park is the most expensive venue in the league, the Titans will face an uphill battle to fill stands and ultimately profit. The increased 1 year salary cap will help the on court performance for at least 1 year, after that the talent will thin out. The Titan have until Tuesday to announce their list of players they will retain and a list of players that will become free agents. Former Boomer Pat Reidy and Giants centre Ben Pepper are expected to join other clubs.