If there's one man who knows a thing or two about running an NBL club on a tight budget, it's Peter Brettell.
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The former Hawks president and chairman guided the league's foundation club through its formative years, when it operated virtually season to season on a shoestring budget out of the Beaton Park Snakepit.
Brettell stepped down in 1997 after almost 20 seasons and is a life member of the club.
His late father Roy was a long-time Illawarra Basketball Association treasurer and board member, while sons Chris and Jason played with the Hawks in the '90s.
Brettell and other life members were keen to be more actively involved with the Hawks in 2007-08.
But after positive meetings with Hawks management in the pre-season, Brettell was disappointed not to be called upon for input during the first half of the season.
If the Hawks somehow find a new owner over the next month and get themselves out of financial trouble, Brettell believes finding the right management team is imperative to moving forward.
"It certainly bothers you to see what's happening. (Fellow Hawks life member) John Scott and I talk regularly about it and we're very concerned," he said.
"It would sadden me greatly, as it would many others, if they didn't get through it. There's no easy answer, but if they do get through, they have to look closely at the administration side of it and how to structure it.
"A lot of guys have put money in to keep it going but they've fallen down at an administrative level.
"You need a person or people with business acumen, but you must have people in the front office with basketball knowledge and a true passion for the game."
In 29 seasons, the Hawks have rarely been in a position to fork out the big bucks for star-studded playing rosters.
The club relied on endless fund-raisers to boost finances in the '80s to try to keep pace with their big-city rivals and Brettell believes the NBL could have done more to prevent the Hawks from becoming so desperate for survival.
"I'm not here to criticise individuals, but the league has a lot to answer for. They've lost their way a bit and I really hope that turns around," he said.
"It was never easy in the days at the Snakepit, but we managed. There was so much put in by so many people over a long, long time.
"If there's anybody out there, now's the time to put their hand up. Losing the Hawks would be a disaster for Wollongong, a disaster for basketball and a disaster for sport.
"Once that licence is gone, we won't get it back."
