Hawks general manager Billy Knight wanted to fire head coach Mike Woodson two weeks ago — but the owners refused, according to two people familiar with the conversation, including one within the organization.

Knight recommended Woodson be replaced by assistant coach Larry Drew after the team traded for point guard Mike Bibby on Feb. 16, during the NBA's All-Star Weekend.

"If we had one [a conversation about Woodson being fired], we wouldn't get into that publicly," said Hawks part owner and NBA Governor Michael Gearon Jr. "And no one is more private in these matters than Billy [Knight]."

Woodson said he has never been approached about being fired. Woodson said he would be glad to talk about his team, but refused to discuss anything related to his job.

"I'm the coach of this team until someone tells me otherwise," said Woodson, who has compiled a 91-209 (.303) record since taking over the Hawks before the start of the 2004-05 season. "I'm going to get these guys ready to play and we're going to keep plugging away at this playoff chase. Because we're right there."

Knight would not comment publicly.

Fellow owner Bruce Levenson would not discuss the conversation to fire Woodson. "The job of every coach of every professional sports team is on the line every day," Levenson said Friday. "That said, Mike is our coach and we have not seriously considered making a change any time recently."

It was not the first time Knight wanted to fire Woodson, the two people familiar with the conversations told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On two previous occasions Knight sought permission to fire Woodson. Gearon denied those conversations took place.

Phone calls and emails on Friday to part owners Michael Gearon Sr. and Steve Belkin were not returned.

Early online publication of the news Thursday night on ajc.com resulted in the a flurry of attention on sports talk radio Friday morning. Gearon Jr. appeared on 790-AM. The Zone, and said he was misquoted, but did not dispute the story's accuracy.

The Hawks, 23-32, are currently in ninth place in the standings and a game behind New Jersey for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff slot.

Woodson's job security has become a greater issue since the team's 9-19 slide to start 2008.

The Hawks own the NBA's longest playoff drought, eight seasons, and are in position for a postseason berth this late in the season for the first time in nine years.

After starting this season with a promising 15-13 record, the Hawks have been unable to maintain any consistency, winning consecutive games just three times since the Christmas.

With every ugly stretch of losses, the calls for Woodson's head have grown increasingly louder.

"I would also tell you that we added a piece in Mike Bibby that we were lacking, a piece that gives us some offensive balance to [Hawks captain and All-Star] Joe [Johnson]," Gearon said.

However, the situation is to the point that players can no longer ignore them.

"It's been kind of hard to ignore all the talk because you know in a situation when you're not winning a lot somebody always has to go, and unfortunately it's usually the coach," Johnson said. "With that being said, I think everyone agrees that getting Mike [Bibby] in that trade certainly helps us.

"The only bad thing is that we got him right before our West[stern Conference] road trip and that's a tough spot for anybody to be in. But now that we've got a chance to get back home and refocus with everybody on the same page, we have an opportunity to get back on track. And I don't think there's any doubt that we're a team capable of making that push to get to the playoffs."