The Wollongong Hawks will begin a worldwide scouting process for two new imports after their future in the NBL was secured at a creditors meeting on Tuesday.
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The Hawks will remain part of an eight-team NBL competition again next season, after creditors unanimously passed a proposal for the company to continue operating.
The decision comes three months after the club was placed into voluntary administration, after then major sponsors Wollongong Coal reduced their financial arrangement.
In a statement, general manager Kim Welch said the Hawks will quickly move on to recruitment for the 2015-16 season.
“We’ll have to sit down with everyone individually over the next few days but I’m hopeful we’ll be able to retain our coaching staff and a majority of the domestic players” Welch said.
The statement declared the Hawks will undergo a ‘‘worldwide search for two new imports in attempt to climb back up the ladder and back vying for a playoff position’’.
“It’s exciting,’’ Welch said.
‘‘We can now begin to officially prepare for the upcoming season. We’ll obviously immediately begin to build a roster but just as importantly we will shortly launch the club’s membership campaign.
“Now is the time to get behind the club through membership, corporate hospitality or sponsorship. We’ll have a huge focus this season on providing an affordable family fun night out and offering real value and service to all our sponsors”.
Wollongong won just six games last season, finishing on the bottom of the NBL ladder.
Welch said the voluntary administration had resulted in significant new support for the embattled club.
“The support from the community has been very encouraging and we thank the fans for their patience. It was important we took our time working with all the relevant parties to ensure we got this right,” Welch said.
The Mercury was not allowed to attend the final creditors meeting on Tuesday, which is understood to have addressed a number of outstanding financial issues from last season.
Engineering business Multi Civil and Rail have taken over as the Hawks new major sponsor.
The Hawks are the only remaining foundation club in the NBL and their presence in the 2015-16 season is a major boost for the league, after officials failed to secure Brisbane’s return.
Townsville also went into voluntary administration in March, but the Crocodiles short-term future has also been secured.
In the statement released by the Hawks, NBL chairman Graeme Wade welcomed the announcement.
“The Hawks confirming their participation is just another part of the resurgence strategy we’ve been able to implement,” Wade said.
“It’s been a fantastic few weeks for the NBL and it augurs well for the upcoming season, which is only four short months away.”
