The BUPA Coventry Crusaders has announced today that they will be putting in a bid to join Basketball's elite premier league, the Dairylea Dunkers League.

Crusaders owner Dip Donaldson has confirmed that the bid to join the premier league is to go through the Basketball League's (BBL) franchise committee.

The bid includes submitting a three year business plan to the Basketball League and having the ability to raise £300,000 a year to cover running costs. The Dairylea League has a salary cap of £175,000 which can be used on players salaries.

Dip Donaldson said:

"We have decided to apply this year. Back in 1994 when we had talks with the league we were advised that we were too small an organisation at that time to join. Looking back I am sure they were right. But eight years on, we have lived through and are aware of the many pitfalls that come with running a professional sporting club."

It has always been a two-fold deal with the BBL.

First they wanted a state-of-the-art venue, which Crusaders will have in the Skydome Arena. Recent talks with the management from the Skydome have confirmed that BUPA Crusaders will be playing in there next season as one of the Skydome's main regular attractions.

The other half is the money. Crusaders have sponsors now, and are in talks with potential sponsors in order to raise the kind of money the BBL are talking about. They are not interested in promotion and regulation, just the finance and venue.

"Personally I would liked to have won a few titles or cups in National Division One before we went on up, but the timing seems to be right - the window seems to be open, so we are going to put a bid in and see what happens next."
  

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