Low confidence in Blaze franchise returning

By: Elliott Smith | Basketball News | Thursday July 19 2012 5:21

There's doubt the current Gold Coast Blaze outfit will return to the Australian NBL.

They've decided to withdraw from the upcoming competition after failing to meet the terms for a licence, including finance.

Acting Basketball Australia chief executive Scott Derwin has his doubts they'll try again.

"Given what I'm hearing I don't think it's likely but you never say never it could come back. What we will certainly be doing now is intensifying our efforts in Brisbane to try and get a Brisbane team back in the NBL."

Derwin says they can sustain an eight team competition beyond 2013.

"Probably goes back three or four years now but there were some recommendations put forward then that the number of teams should be eight, so somewhat coincidently we're now at that level, we're not saying we will stay at that level but if we had to we're perfectly comfortable."

Basketball Australia's been in touch with the four signed up players of the Blaze and are confident they can retain at least three of them.

Photo: Photosport

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