BUCKLE OUT AS GB BOSS - Hoopsfix.com

BUCKLE OUT AS GB BOSS

British Basketball have parted ways with Great Britain women’s coach Peter Buckle in the wake of the team’s last-place finish at this summer’s EuroBasket finals in Hungary.

Current assistant Vanessa Ellis, who led Sheffield Hatters to last season’s inaugural WBBL title, is the favourite to replace the Australian, who first took charge in 2014.

With European qualifiers now taking place mid-season, starting with November’s trip to Montenegro, GB chiefs are thought to favour a UK-based coach to spearhead their quest to reach the 2017 finals in the Czech Republic.

“The 2015 EuroBasket Women campaign came to an end after the Final Round in Hungary and our grateful thanks go to Peter Buckle and his staff for their dedication and hard work over the last 18 months,” said British Basketball Performance Chairman, Roger Moreland.

“Now is the time to look forward to this next qualification round which is always a great prospect and especially because of the terrific track record the women have established in recent years.

“The new campaign brings with it the additional excitement of games now being played in three distinct windows during across the next couple of club seasons – starting in November of this year.

“The British Basketball Federation has decided the time is right to invite applications for the post of head coach at a time when women’s sport is rightly coming even more the fore.

“We look forward to the appointed head coach leading our national team to success on the international stage and inspiring many more young women to both play and enjoy this great game.”

Meanwhile FIBA have confirmed the new British Basketball Federation will officially inherit membership of the world governing body on 1 October 2016, taking over from Basketball England, Scotland and Wales.

Main pic: Mansoor Ahmed