Plymouth City Patriots: Outgoing chairman says BBL club needs more support

Plymouth has hosted a BBL basketball side since 2004

Outgoing Plymouth City Patriots chairman Carl Heslop says more support is needed from the city if the British Basketball League side is to thrive.

The BBL took over in 2021 when Plymouth Raiders withdrew over venue issues.

They were eighth and ninth respectively in the past two seasons in the 10-team league and are bottom this season.

"There needs to be some support from the city to make sure this happens, because it would be a tragedy if this was lost," Heslop told BBC Spotlight.

Heslop has been at the helm since the club was resurrected by the BBL on a voluntary basis, and says an increase in workload at his other businesses means he can no longer dedicate enough time to the Patriots.

The club still plays its matches at Plymouth Pavilions - more than 12 months after the end of an agreement with the venue over hosting fees that led to the Raiders' demise.

"Professional basketball has been in the city for a long period of time and I think the city is naïve to think they can have a premier league professional team without actually supporting its own venue," said Heslop, who will leave his role on 15 December.

He added: "Nothing will change throughout the season, we've got games to win, we've got a very good coach, a very good roster and we've got some very good players.

"That will all continue, so the League are filling in when I won't be in post, and beyond that I'm sure the league will have a plan to continue basketball in Plymouth."

In a statement, the British Basketball League said: "Carl's departure hasn't changed anything in the day-to-day operations - it's business as usual.

"The League will continue to run the club, as we have been doing for the past two years."