THE Budweiser Basketball League in England are looking at the
possibility of expanding the league north of the Border again and have
visited the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow to see whether it
would be a suitable venue for an expansion team.
Following their fine display even in defeat by Livingston Bulls in the
Scottish Cup final at Meadowbank last Sunday, Glasgow Brightsiders could
be ripe for such an expansion with the right financial backing. As
Glasgow's Scottish international point guard, Tony McDaid, said after
the game, which Bulls won 76-62: ''This is only the beginning.''
The team already are to be strengthened next season, with McDaid's
Scottish international team-mate, Philip Birch, leaving Paisley Clanford
to join them.
A strong Glasgow would enhance the former Carlsberg League, which is
independent but has had no Scottish teams since MIM, now Livingston,
withdrew five years ago.
But the possibility of Scottish teams rejoining has never been
precluded, despite the fact that it acts as a premier division in all
but name for the English League's two other divisions.
There is, however, no automatic promotion and clubs have to convince
the League not just of their ability to compete on the court but also of
their administrative and marketing credentials and, perhaps most
important of all, the spectator potential of their home venue.
The League's chief executive, Mike Smith, said: ''We are looking ahead
and want to look at more and more courts with the spectator capacity of
Manchester (18,000) and Sheffield (10,000).
''The name of the game for the last two years has been consolidation
and we are not looking to risk this in the immediate future by asking
the clubs to bear more travel costs. But two seasons from now we could
be looking at re-admitting a Scottish team, provided it has the right
credentials.''
Glasgow's first priority must be to win Scottish honours and only
their lack of bench strength and perhaps lack of belief prevented them
doing so at Meadowbank last Sunday.
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