[15 FEB 11] CRUSADER NEWS

Payne: Help me keep basketball alive

By Adam Manning, Crusaders Press Officer.

Frustrated: After offering sponsorship packages to over 30 companies, head coach Roger Payne is pleading for help to keep the mens first-team alive.

Coventry Crusaders Basketball Club head coach Roger Payne is pleading for help as he finds his team on the brink of going out of business.

Payne revealed that unless the side find a sponsor or some form of donation by Thursday 17 February, then the first team’s 19-year stay in Coventry will be over.

Financial problems went back to the start of the season as Warwickshire Basketball Hall of Fame coach Payne stepped in just before the start of the National League campaign to keep the team afloat, but a lack of support from local companies means the head coach can’t afford to put his hand in his pocket any longer. 

“I know it's a hard time for all companies in this economic down-turn, but this is one of the most well known institutions of basketball in Britain” said Payne, who was preparing to gear his side up for a battle against National League Division One leaders Bristol Academy Flyers this Saturday.

“I have done as much as I can do financially to get the team to this point and if we do not receive a donor or some one to help us to the end of this season, of which there is only two months left, then Coventry mens basketball will no longer be in the First Division of England Basketball.”

“It hurts me to see money being poured into other sports and the minority sports get pushed to the side. Coventry Crusaders have never asked for any hand outs, but I am pleading with any company out there that are true sports fans whether football, rugby or hockey to get behind your Coventry team, and help me keep basketball alive.”

After a disappointing start to the season that saw just one win from eight league games Coventry’s new-look squad, which contains 14 new recruits including the league’s top-scorer Casey Crawford, moved up a gear as they grabbed consecutive wins to put the team two wins away from the play-off places in National League Division One.

Despite double-defeats last weekend, they’re still only two wins off the play-offs with eight games to play ahead of the scheduled clash with Bristol at the Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre this Saturday.

To get in touch please contact Coach Payne on coachpayne23@gmail.com or contact club press officer Adam Manning on 07539341855. 

 

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