Bill Bestwick says there is still some orange in his heart, but not as much as before.
The former Nanaimo Clippers coach and GM, who held those positions since 1999, spoke with the media Tuesday, a day after the hockey club announced his firing.
“I’m sad and disappointed to be departing on these terms, make no mistake about that,” he said. “I always wished to remove myself with dignity and integrity and respect for this organization, for the people that support this organization. I had every intention of doing that.”
That won’t happen, though, as Bestwick declined ownership’s offer of a role in business operations or community relations with the Clippers.
Being coach and GM for so long became a lifestyle and culture, Bestwick said.
“When you embrace it full on and build it from the ground up, I think it’s really difficult to accept any other capacity,” he said. “I’m not willing to entertain any future opportunities, if there are any.”
Bestwick officially learned of his termination March 14, via an e-mail from the club’s governor Ken Wagner.
“Three years of not going deeper into the playoffs is really the reason why we made the change,” Wagner told the Bulletin earlier this week.
Bestwick suggested that the Clippers were in a rebuilding phase.
“It’s very, very challenging to continually – at any level – be at the top of your class for extended periods of time,” he said. “[We were] probably a goal, a save, a week of good luck, of good health away from not having this conversation.”
The former GM was asked if ownership provided the resources required to put a winning team on the ice, for example with his scouting and recruiting budget.
“Recruiting philosophies definitely have been altered,” Bestwick said. “They’re not the same as they were when we were in our most successful seasons.”
Wagner said there have been no changes in that area the past few years.
“That has never been an issue,” the governor said. “Our budget has been more than fair on the recruiting and the scouting and anything else like that.”
Both sides said they preferred not to talk about negatives. Wagner hopes people will be excited about the Clippers’ new direction under coach and GM Mike Vandekamp, and Bestwick wants to express thanks to the community that has supported him and the Clippers for so long.
The ex-coach hasn’t received any hockey job offers yet and hasn’t decided what he wants to do next. He talked about volunteering and trying to find ways to give back to Nanaimo.
“I don’t intend to go very far,” Bestwick said. “I certainly hope that I have a chance to personally embrace everybody that’s embraced this team.”
sports@nanaimobulletin.com