Link Tochigi Brex head coach Bruce Palmer has been fired, a prominent hoop source told The Japan Times on Saturday.
Tochigi (16-22, sixth place in the eight-team JBL), faces the Panasonic Trians in a two-game series this weekend.
Assistant coach Kazuto Aono, the former Kyoto Hannaryz bench boss and Saitama Broncos player and assistant coach, will serve as the Brex's acting coach for the team's final four games, the source said.
"They won't make the playoffs," the source said, "despite having (former NBA point guard Yuta) Tabuse and (perennial leading scorer Takuya) Kawamura, and probably trying to get (ex-Tochigi coach and recently fired Japan national team coach) Tom Wisman back for next season."
Wisman guided Tochigi to the 2009-10 JBL title.