08/01/08 The credibility of basketball in this country was dealt another blow today, as, after several days of speculation, it was confirmed that Luna Mansfield Stars, the 2006 EBL 2 Championship winners, who had been carrying all before them in Division 3 North this season, have pulled out of all EBL competitions with immediate effect. They are the third established team (following Solent and West Herts) to have gone to the wall this season. "It is with great sadness that the administration of Luna Mansfield Basketball announces the withdrawal from all England Basketball Division 3 competitions." It was with that stark statement in a Press Release that the turbulent recent history of basketball in North Nottinghamshire took another downturn. Having struggled through last season as a nomadic team, after their long-term home, Mansfield Leisure Centre, was Tescoed, Mansfield Express' future seemed to have been ensured when the developer who was due to build the planned new Arena in the town took over ownership of the club and renamed them Luna Mansfield Stars. Since then, however, it seems that the future of the Arena itself have been thrown into doubt and Amer Khan, of Luna Group Ventures, has decided to withdraw his funding from the basketball team. As those left to pick up the pieces point out in the Press statement, "The unbeaten league leaders of Division 3 North can no longer continue without the promised and significant financial support." One small crumb of comfort for fans (and players) of the club is that the club's second-team will continue to play in Division 4 (and hopefully gain promotion at the end of the season): "The enduring support of the West Nottinghamshire College will enable the Division Four North leaders, WNC Luna Mansfield Stars, to continue. For the remainder of the 2007-2008 season they will play as WNC Mansfield."
Article in "Mansfield Chad"
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