(DANIEL EADE is a freelance journalist and regular BPL contributor on basketball.)

Besieged Melbourne Tigers head coach Al Westover has admitted the club is in a desperate situation after its horror season culminated last week in a meek capitulation to the Sydney Kings.

The defeat is believed to have sparked a tirade from Tigers' chief executive Seamus McPeake, who warned the players during a half-time rage in the locker-room that he would stop paying them.

Westover today said everyone at the club was 'frustrated' and 'disappointed' after the loss to Sydney last Wednesday, all but ending any hope the Tigers had of making a remarkable surge and sneaking into the playoffs.

Westover, whose job will be reviewed at Tuesday night's board meeting, admitted he had not been in touch with Tigers' management since the Sydney game.

"It's always an emotional thing, professional sport, there's a lot of frustration and disappointment at the club. It kind of boiled over with that loss to Sydney. I know there's some people upset," said Westover.

"I haven't had contact with the club directly since then, I'm sure some people might have calmed down a bit.''

The Tigers' board will meet on Tuesday night when McPeake, the CEO and majority owner of the club, is expected to wave the white flag on the Tigers season. That will lead to the dumping of import guard Eric Devendorf and big man Wade Helliwell.

The board will also decide on Westover's future.

It is possible that Westover will be sacked or asked to resign, or the Tigers may allow him to coach out the season, with a very slim chance of Westover returning next season.

"There's a board meeting tomorrow evening," said Westover, "And I guess whatever is going to happen will come out during that meeting."

In an interview with SEN radio, Westover also referred to McPeake's half-time rant but said he did not hear anything that his CEO had said to the team because the coaches were outside the locker room.

"We all know Seamus can be very fiery at all times," said Westover, "It's happened before where he has come in at half-time and talked to the guys.

"I'm not sure what was said, coaches always meet outside and by the time we came in, Seamus had said his piece.

"So it's happened before and he's the majority owner and I guess he has the right to come in and do that. I'm sure he's just trying to pump the guys up so we play better.''

Of the players' response to McPeake's half-time spray, Westover said: "I think it can go one way or the other, either they are going to come out and play great or they're going to be a bit shocked, and we definitely didn't play well in the second half.

"We're all pretty disappointed and a bit down.''

When quizzed about the possibility that his contract will be terminated on Tuesday night, Westover was hopeful that he will stay on the sidelines as the man in charge: "You hope not (to be sacked). I still have a couple of years on my contract. It's been a very trying time as a coach the last couple of years with the line-up changes we've had."

Chris Anstey, who is heavily rumoured to be the coach-in-waiting, is still adamant that he has had no contact with the Tigers or McPeake about replacing Westover, should Westover be given the heave-ho.

Anstey retired at the end of last season, his return to the NBL and the Tigers for five seasons to end his career included two championships and two MVP awards in 2006 and 2008.