The daughter of Shane Heal has hit out at her former Sydney Flames teammates who have made bullying allegations against her father, declaring they “can’t hide from the truth forever”.
As the Flames and Shane Heal returned to the Federal Court on Wednesday, Shyla Heal, the star guard and Opal who had been coached by her father at the Flames before the allegations surfaced, wanted to know which players had approached the club and made the claims.
WNBL star Shyla Heal has rejoined the Townsville Fire, having left the Sydney Flames.Credit:Ian Hitchcock
Australian Boomers and NBL great Shane Heal, 52, has not coached the Flames since he was a late omission from the January 18 clash with Southside Flyers. Shyla was also a late withdrawal that night and has since left to join the Townsville Fire.
The Flames launched an investigation into Shane Heal, the latter strenuously denying the claims in a statement released on Tuesday.
Shyla Heal on Wednesday retweeted a statement made by Terry Barca, who on his Twitter profile says he is an author, former basketball coach and referee. Barca wrote: “Now that Sydney have released a statement (about the worst kept secret in Aus BB) will we get to know which players considered that they were being bullied? If you want to play at the highest level and you have thin skin, why are you there?”
Shyla Heal had already taken to social media to declare: “Can’t hide the truth forever”.
Basketball great Shane Heal is fighting allegations of bullying lodged by Sydney Flames players. Heal has denied the claims.Credit:Getty
Lawyers for Shane Heal and the Flames appeared before Justice Melissa Perry via video link in the Federal Court on Wednesday. In a short hearing, the parties agreed to work towards a trial in June. The trial is likely to be in-person only.
Heal has sued the Flames, of which former NBA stars Luc Longley and Andrew Bogut are part-owners, filing Federal Court proceedings last week. The Federal Court denied The Age and Sydney Morning Herald access to any affidavits. Hoops Capital owns the Flames and men’s Sydney Kings. Heal is also a former Kings coach and championship player with the franchise.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Flames said: “In early January 2023 multiple Sydney Flames players separately approached club officials with allegations of bullying by the head coach of the Sydney Flames, Shane Heal.
“After consideration of the allegations and the risk to the health and safety of players and the club’s obligations […] it was determined by the Sydney Flames to carry out an independent, factual investigation of the allegations made and that Shane Heal be suspended whilst the investigation took place. The Sydney Flames [have] since been provided with the factual findings of the investigation. What sits at the heart of this matter is player safety and welfare. That is our sole concern at this time, and we will always maintain focus on that.”
Heal said he had “no choice but to briefly respond” to the Flames’ statement. I “am disappointed that they made the statement without any consultation or notice, particularly when there are court proceedings on foot,” Heal said.
“I have been employed as the head coach of Sydney Flames since March 2021. I have worked closely with the team, coaching staff and management without any issues or concerns being raised.
“During late 2022, I raised various concerns affecting my ability to coach the team. I then raised concern on 7 January 2023 about the manner in which I had been treated by a senior member of Sydney Flames management. Soon after, I was suspended.
“At a later stage, I was provided with, in my view, broadly stated and general allegations … I wish to make clear that I have raised concerns about the nature of the allegations; the motivation of raising them as at 20 January 2023; and fundamental deficiencies in the investigation process which was undertaken. I have also provided a detailed response.
“I deny that I have at any stage acted in a manner to risk the health and safety of any person … To the contrary, I have sought to safeguard the wellbeing and interests of players, and support them. I have not been informed by Sydney Flames … the identity of any persons who may have raised concerns.”
Heal has previously said daughter Shyla’s move was not related to his case.
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