Southland team likely in NBL

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Southland Basketball Association president Jill Bolger is 70 per cent confident that a Southland-based side will compete in next year's National Basketball League for the first time.

Since gaining a three-year licence from the league's board six weeks ago, the association has been flat tack, meeting community funders, possible sponsors and among themselves, to determine whether they can secure the necessary funding. They envisage start-up costs in their first year in the league will be about $400,000 and Bolger said they should know their fate by early next week.

Southland's NBL board has a meeting on Monday evening, with a final decision effectively having to be made then, with Southland's participation agreement and entry fee having to be returned to the league's board on Tuesday.

Bolger said they had received a pleasing response from funders and sponsors so far, but question marks still remained because some funding was still yet to be confirmed.

"Potentially, it's been a very positive response. Some of the funding is still up in the air, though, and we may not find out about that until later on down the track ... We need a couple more community funders round the $10 to $20,000 mark."

The association has been in negotiations with a naming rights sponsor and Bolger said those talks were progressing well. She acknowledged it was not the easiest time to be trying to get money out of people.

"The timing isn't great with Christmas. Businesses don't want to be bothered for money."

She remained confident that Southland will take its place in the league next season.

"At this point I'd like to say it's 70 per cent that it will go ahead."

Southland's bold bid to play in the NBL is fast running out of time, with many of the other sides in the competition already signing players and booking their accommodation and travel for the new season, which tips off in March.

A draft draw has already been compiled and would need to be tweaked should Southland pull out.

Southland Basketball operations manager Richard Dickel – who is a leading candidate to coach the side – has been in discussions with players in New Zealand and overseas. Former Tall Black Dillon Boucher, who plays for the NZ Breakers, is believed to be at the top of their shopping list.

If Southland's bid falls over at the final hurdle, it will not be the first time. In 2003, a group of prominent Southland businessmen went agonisingly close to landing Southland an NBL spot, but a lack of funding scuttled their dream late in the piece.

Bolger believed it was now or never for an NBL team in Southland, with the region being awarded a three-year licence and the game on a high after the dual success of the men's and women's representative sides at the open nationals tournament this year.

"If we wait three years we'll lose enthusiasm. Now is exactly the right time. If we don't do it now, it's one of those things that will sit on the backburner."

- © Fairfax NZ News