BASKETBALL
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Wollongong Hawks general manager Kim Welch believes the club won't be overly affected by the start of the NBL free agency period.
Hovering in the precarious world of voluntary administration since early March, the Hawks are on the verge of pulling through their third serious financial crisis in six years.
Welch hopes to declare the Hawks back open for business by Friday.
He has been in regular talks with Wollongong coach Gordie McLeod about re-signing and recruiting players when the club gets the official all-clear.
The NBL delayed the start of the free-agency period to give Wollongong and Townsville time to sort out their financial problems.
The moratorium was lifted on Friday and Welch was disappointed the Hawks weren't in a position to start signing players.
However, he doesn't expect the club to fall too far behind as teams rush to sign free agents.
"I'm still confident we'll be able to retain key personnel," Welch said.
"Although we have missed the free agency deadline I'm confident that we have put measures in place that will ensure every opportunity is given to players to return to the club next season.
However the club is still working through the VA process and that needs to be the club's main priority.
"With free agency now open and clubs free to sign players and build rosters, we can't afford to take any more time. Put simply we need to resolve this and we need to do it quickly. I'm hopeful we will be in a position to have our final meeting of creditors as early as next week, week after worst case. Any longer than that and we begin to jeopardise our preparation for next season."
The Hawks were wooden spooners last season, finishing with six wins from 28 games.