Essex to join BBL?

Southend is one step away from having a professional basketball club playing in the town, writes Paul Alton in the Echo.

The Essex Basketball Club is planning to base itself at the Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre and enter the sport's domestic top flight - the British Basketball League.

The BBL Franchise Committee has visited the centre in Eastern Avenue, Southend, and will now make a final decision on whether to accept Essex Basketball Club into the league for the new season.

GB international coach Tim Lewis and long-time basketball operator Ian Mollard are heading up Essex Basketball Club and will be setting the team up in time for the new season in September if the franchise gets the green light.