By Steve Deane

Dillon Boucher is defecting to Harbour. Photo / Paul EstcourtThe Auckland Stars are facing possible expulsion from the New Zealand NBL after failing to declare debts owed to former coach Kenny Stone and North Harbour-bound star Dillon Boucher.

League rules require franchises to notify the NBL board of all creditors and debtors, with a failure to do so deemed a breach that could result in a franchise being expelled from the league.

The Herald understands the Stars' participation agreement, signed by owner Tab Baldwin, fails to declare unpaid wages owed to Stone and Boucher.

Yesterday Stone - who has been either a player or coach at the club for the past 15 years - broke his silence, confirming he was owed an amount of money "large enough to be significant to me".

NBL chairman Sam Rossiter-Stead confirmed the Stars had failed to notify the league of the debts to Boucher and Stone, believed to total more than $30,000.

"The Stars management have not informed the board of any outstanding debts owed to players or coaches," Rossiter-Stead said.

When the Herald first revealed the non-payments in October, Rossiter-Stead said the Stars would only be allowed into this year's competition if all outstanding bills were paid.

Yesterday, however, he was less equivocal.

"We will be taking this issue up with the Stars management as a matter of some urgency," he said.

Boucher, whose wife is expecting twins, declined to comment but confirmed he has defected to Harbour, where he will join Breakers import Rick Rickert in a powerful lineup that also includes Tall Blacks Corey Webster and BJ Anthony and classy veterans Daryl Cartwright.

"I saw that Harbour was putting together a good team and I wanted to be part of it," Boucher said.

Harbour Basketball chief executive Stephen Dally was delighted to have picked up one of the league's most dominant players.

"I understand that he has had issues with the Stars but that has nothing to do with Harbour Heat," Dally said. "We've started new with Dillon and we've got a solid reputation for paying all of our players."

Once a powerhouse in the league, the Kohimarama-based Stars have been in disarray since former Tall Blacks coach Baldwin assumed sole ownership in 2007.