The plan was so far advanced, the ACT Government had backed the proposal and Canberra officials were seeking sponsors to help fund playing at least two – and possibly more – NBL games in the national capital next season.

It was part of a move by owner James Spenceley, who headed the talks, to help alleviate the club’s financial problems.

However, it collapsed when the Hawks went into voluntary administration. The club on Wednesday held a creditors’  meeting in Wollongong to appoint administrators. The Hawks  have less than a month to find a major sponsor  or an investor prepared to help bail them  out.

The situation was made more complicated on Tuesday night when Townsville followed the Hawks into voluntary administration, raising the prospect of six teams remaining in the NBL.

Wollongong Hawks general manager Kim Welch declined to comment on the move to play in Canberra next season.

The Mercury also attempted to contact Spenceley on Wednesday, but he did not return calls.

However, ACT chief minister Andrew Barr said talks had taken place.

“I have met with representatives from the Wollongong Hawks to discuss the possibility of Canberra hosting home games,” Barr said.

“We are always keen to look at new and exciting entertaining options for Canberra. In this instance, however, it’s unlikely the government will be able to host the Hawks for next season.”

Spenceley, a telecommunications businessman,  took over the club nine months ago.

Canberra and Brisbane were two markets earmarked for possible expansion. The cities previously had the Cannons and Bullets in the NBL.

At the NBL pre-season competition, former chief executive Fraser Neill announced a team would be established next season, but last week chairman Graeme Wade said he was unsure about the return to Brisbane happening in 2015-16.

The revelation comes as Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said  the time had come to  revitalise the competition in a similar fashion to the A-League’s success after the collapse of the NSL.

“I have never held this view at all throughout this challenging phase of the NBL, but I have reached a position where I think they are better off regrouping and shutting it down,” Gaze said.

“Even if these two teams [Wollongong and Townsville] somehow find a way to get through administration, nothing is going to change significantly to turn around their plight because...it is a slow burn.

“So shut it down, regroup and get the right model because the model is broken.”