Basketball May 11, 2012
Adam Gibson of the Blaze drives past Ron Dorsey of the Tigers in January this year. Photo: Getty Images
THE AILING National Basketball League has suffered another major blow with the Gold Coast Blaze entering voluntary administration.
The shock move has the NBL in grave danger of dropping to an eight-team competition in the 2012-13 season and could leave it without a club across the east coast from Townsville to Sydney.
Founded in 2007, the Blaze recently made this season's play-offs under coach Joey Wright, however the club's owners, the Tomlinson family, appointed a voluntary administrator on Wednesday to control its affairs.
It comes after the surprise resignation of Basketball Australia chief executive Larry Sengstock.
The NBL will speak to administrator Roland Robson in coming days and will do all it can to ensure the Blaze gets back up and running next season.
The loss of the Blaze would be a double blow to the sport in south-east Queensland after the failure of secret talks with an unnamed consortium to resurrect foundation club, the Brisbane Bullets, for next season.
AAP