Interim delivery group approved to oversee GB basketball programme
Senior representatives from across British basketball have unanimously approved the establishment of an interim delivery subgroup to support the Great Britain programme and 3×3 responsibilities, following meetings in Bristol on Monday 14 April and online on Tuesday 22 April.
The interim structure will operate for a period of up to 10 months, providing stability while work continues on a permanent long-term governance solution for the sport.
It will act as an advisory and support group to Basketball England, the National Governing Body currently acting as the Accountable Body for the GB Programme following the British Basketball Federation going into voluntary liquidation in November last year.
Paul Blake, Managing Director of Newcastle Eagles, has been confirmed as chair of the group.
Core Membership
The interim delivery subgroup will comprise:
● Paul Blake (Chair), Managing Director, Newcastle Eagles
● Nigel Walker, CEO, Basketball England
● David Fallon, CEO, Basketball Scotland
● Ryan Chambers, Performance Lead, Basketball Wales
● Russell Bell, British Championship Basketball, Chair
● Andy Webb, COO, Super League Basketball
Wider Consultation Group
The interim structure was agreed by the wider group of stakeholders leading the consultation process. In the interests of transparency, those representatives are:
● Super League Basketball: Sanjay Bhandari, Laura Kaye Tomlinson
● Super League Basketball Women: Jim Saker, Andy Webb
● Basketball England: Nigel Walker, Paul Blanchard
● Basketball Scotland: David Fallon, Derek Weir
● Basketball Wales: Rhys Garmon, Gavin Williams
● British Championship Basketball: Russell Bell, Emily Clark
● Leeds Group (independent group exploring the future of British basketball): Mark Clark, Sam Neter
The process continues to be independently chaired by Tim Hollingsworth, former CEO of Sport England.
Paul Blake, Chair of the Interim Delivery Group said:
“British basketball is at a critical juncture, and this interim structure gives us the framework to meet our immediate obligations to FIBA and our national programmes while the bigger conversation about long-term governance continues. My thanks to all the home country associations, leagues and stakeholders who will be bringing their collective expertise together to deliver the up-and-coming programmes. There is significant work ahead, but we start from a position of genuine collaboration.”
The interim group will focus specifically on supporting current GB programme requirements and the sport’s 3×3 commitments through to the end of the financial year. Its remit is deliberately time-limited to ensure continuity of delivery while the broader consultation process continues.
While the interim structure will allow Great Britain to meet its FIBA requirements and national team commitments in a challenging financial environment, conversations continue between the Home Country Associations and key stakeholders about the long-term future of British basketball.
Further updates will follow as the consultation progresses.
Do you like our work?
We have a tiny favour to ask. In 2018 we set out to make Hoopsfix sustainable by building our relationship directly with our readers. Up until now, Hoopsfix has been creating editorials, videos and podcasts to provide sorely missing coverage of the British game and its distinct culture and community.
We have funded Hoopsfix with our freelance work creating basketball media, but sadly that means not only does it fall behind our client’s priorities, but some of those clients are the same organisations we need to report objectively on putting us in a conflicted position.
We want to devote more time to our mission of helping British basketball reach its potential, and produce even more content for the basketball community by making Hoopsfix a sustainable 100% independent business funded directly by our readers through Patreon.
If everyone who enjoys our content chose to support us, our future would be much more secure. For as little as $3 per month, you can support Hoopsfix – and it only takes a minute.
We are tremendously honoured and humbled to have a community of people who value what we do, and we look forward to being at the forefront of the British game as it continues to evolve.
0 comments