Mersey Tigers choose to drop to EBL Division 4

Mersey Tigers announced this evening they would resort to playing in EBL Division 4 for the upcoming season after a summer that saw the Liverpool-based side removed from the top tier of British basketball.

The side lost every game of the 2012/13 BBL season, which included a first ever loss by a BBL side to lower opposition in the BBL Trophy, losing out to Worthing Thunder in the first round of the competition.

Mersey Tigers fans were up in arms after a decision to remove the franchise from the BBL came in a short, swift and unexpected announcement, but after partnering with Liverpool Basketball Club, it has been decided that the team will amalgamate with LBC.

The statement in full released by the Merseysiders this afternoon said:

“The late decision by the BBL to withdraw the Mersey Tigers franchise and their subsequent delay in hearing our appeal has left little time for the Mersey Tigers to make arrangements for the 2013/14 season.

“We are still unable to make any comment on the BBL situation however we are able to announce that Mersey Tigers will be in action this year.

“The recent tie in with Liverpool Basketball Club has allowed the Mersey Tigers to compete in the EBL Division 4. The new name of the merged junior programme will be the “Liverpool Tigers”, and they will field teams in the EBL Under 18’s, Under 16’s and Under 14’s.

“The season starts this weekend with Mersey Tigers visiting Sefton Stars, so not far for our fans to travel to see the new Mersey Tigers team in action. It will be great to see some of you there.

“We’ll have more information in the coming days about the team and the home fixtures. In the meantime we would like to wish Tigers Head Coach Tony Walsh good luck for the coming season in the EBL.”

So whilst it may not be the answer many Mersey Tigers fans were looking for, the team will play on.