Wollongong Hawks Glen Saville remains hopeful

Widely considered the greatest Hawks' player, Saville spent 18 seasons with the founding NBL franchise and wasn't totally shocked by the confirmation on Monday the club had decided to place itself into voluntary administration.

"It is a bit of a shock, but when I read the email I didn't fall off my chair," Saville said.

"It's the Hawks. Just about every season the club seems to be dealing with some drama or another. Losing a major sponsor like Wollongong Coal is hard for any major sporting team to overcome.

"Everyone was hoping with James [Spenceley] being a relatively new owner we were working towards stability. Hopefully that can still take place.

"But owning a professional sporting team in Australia is not cheap. We can all just hope James and the Hawks administration can work through the current situation."

Saville was relieved Monday's Wollongong Hawks media release had confirmed the players, coaches and staff would continue to be paid during the month-long voluntary administration period.

"That is a big relief. There's nothing worse for the players and staff, so to read that at least there are provisions being made to look after them is positive."

Saville was part of the Hawks lone championship in the 2000-01 season and played for the club through many tough seasons when the club struggled financially.

At the end of the 2008-09 season, Saville's great mate Mat Campbell led a community-based "Save the Hawks" campaign in which the club clawed back from the brink of extinction.

The Hawks looked to be getting back on their feet after making the top four play-offs last season and welcoming entrepreneur James Spenceley as their new owner.

But falling attendances this season and finishing with the wooden spoon has again applied the blowtorch to the club's financial resources.