MANCHESTER, LONDON SET TO JOIN BBL
- Updated: May 7, 2012
Manchester Giants and London Leopards are set to join the British Basketball League next season, MVP can exclusively reveal.
The two clubs are understood to have impressed the BBL’s franchise committee who could rubber stamp their entry for 2012-13 as soon as this week.
League sources have confirmed that a further two applications, from Reading Rockets and London Nassa, have been rejected.
Neither of the two failed bids are thought to have made a persuasive case.
Essex-based Leopards, albeit in a renewed form, would be returning to the top flight after an eight–year absence. Despite initial opposition to the EBL team’s bid for promotion, the addition of extra backers, combined with existing expertise, look to have swung matters in their favour.
While Manchester, long considered favourites to win a franchise, will be back in the BBL 11 years after the old Giants folded mid-season.
“Leopards and Manchester just had good presentations,†a source told MVP. “Leopards now have good people involved and Manchester have Jeff Jones who’s been around the league.
“But the other two don’t have good venues and their presentations were weak.â€
The two victors could be confirmed in the league ahead of next weekend’s play-off final.
However it could still be addition by subtraction for next season.
There remain concerns with in the league over the health of Mersey Tigers amid ongoing difficulties within the Liverpool club.
While Sheffield will be asked to confirm their financial stability following a season in which the collapse of planned investments into the Sharks saw the current regime fail to make their required payments into the BBL’s TV fund.
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