Payne's position in doubt since criticisms

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MILWAUKEE -- Questions about Ulice Payne Jr.'s future with the Milwaukee Brewers should be resolved within two days.

The team president and CEO is in discussions with the team's board of directors over his role, he said Wednesday night. He declined to elaborate.

"Nothing's changed from yesterday or the day before," Payne said. "I'm coming to work every day and trying to do my job. I hope in the near future we'll have a resolution on the direction of the front office."

Questions over Payne's future have intensified over the last few days after he publicly criticized the team's budget that reduced payroll to $30 million.

He said the "mini-controversy" needs to be resolved so fans understand where the team wants to go.

The team's flagship radio station, WTMJ, quoted two sources on the Brewers' board of directors as saying Payne was out as the team's leader pending contract negotiations.

The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the station Payne and the Brewers decided to part ways because of long-standing differences.

But Brewers spokesman Jon Greenberg said late Wednesday on Payne was still in charge.

Payne took over the Brewers in September 2002, becoming the first black team president in major league history.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press

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