CUP-WINNING Worcester Wolves have reflected on a season to be proud of after British Basketball League chiefs pulled the plug on efforts to conclude the 2019/20 campaign.
BBL bosses, together with clubs, revealed their decision to cancel the season outright on Monday with no league title being awarded. It means leaders Glasgow Rocks who were four points clear with five games to play will have to wait for their first BBL title.
Wolves had six games remaining and were in play-off contention in third place when the league was paused on March 17 because of the Coronavirus crisis.
Managing director Mick Donovan said: “Whilst the final decision to conclude the season is not surprising under the current circumstances, there is a great deal to be proud of and many positives to take from this season from our perspective.”
While the league has been declared null and void, Wolves’ BBL Cup 67-59 victory over Bristol Flyers at a packed Arena Birmingham in January to lift the BBL Cup for the first time will remain in the record books.
“The BBL Cup victory was a true highlight for everyone involved with the club and a great way to celebrate the achievements of our exciting team led by head coach Matt Newby and his coaching team,” Donovan said.
“As we look back over another season, it was significantly successful on the court, we continue to move forward as a club and as ever we are very mindful of the great support we receive from our Wolfpack.”
The BBL say clubs agreed unanimously the campaign – which was initially due to finish on May 17 – could not be completed.
Chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: “Obviously this is not the way anyone wanted to see the season end and we worked hard to try to find an alternative solution. The 2019/20 season was one of the most exciting and competitive we’ve seen and shaping up to a very exciting finish and we look forward to building on that,
“Based on multiple teams mathematically capable of winning, the independent directors of the BBL Management Board have agreed there will be no winner of the championship title.”
League chiefs confirmed the current BBL Cup and Trophy formats will remain the same but the championship will return to a previous format of teams play each other three times over the course of the season rather than the current home and away system.
The BBL says it hopes to start the 2020-21 season in the autumn, but a date will depend on government advice on what will be allowed for indoor arenas.