The Logan based WNBL club South East Queensland Stars have folded and will cease operations in a major blow to basketball in south-east Queensland and a major blow to Logan.
SEQ basketball chairman Jarrod Sierocki confirmed via a statement that the club, which was sitting in fifth place in its first year in the national competition has appointed Deloitte as liquidators of the Shane Heal coached side and that the team will immediately cease operations, throwing into chaos the rest of the WNBL season.
Mr Sierocki said via a statement that a lack of support left the club with no options.
“Unfortunately a lack of attendance, community following and sponsorship revenue has severely impacted on the club and the losses simply can’t be sustained. It is with great regret that it has come to this,” he said.
“We were very pleased with the performance of the team and the effort by the players to play a great style of basketball. To be sitting fifth and in the hunt for the finals in our first year was a great credit to the players and staff.
“We’d like to sincerely thank our fans who have supported the team.”
The Stars boast two Australian Opals in Rachel Jarry and Bec Allen and had won five of their last six games.
The statement also stated that the club had been working with Basketball Australia to investigate a range of other options, but none of these had provided a viable long term option.
The Stars are the second Logan-based WNBL club to fold in recent years after the Logan Thunder franchise pulled out of the WNBL in April of 2014.
More to come...