Basketball: Worthing opt for strength after McElduff departs

Worthing Bears have strengthened their playing roster by signing the American point guard Joel Burns and the Canadian guard Greg Francis, subject to securing work permits.

The Budweiser League club, forced to re-group following the withdrawal of the owner, Greg Fullerton, and the departures of their coaches, Chris Jones and Neil McElduff, are also aiming to re-sign the Canadian forward Shawn Swords.

Swords quit after Jones announced his resignation three weeks ago and since then the point guard Ryan Cuff and the captain Ben Caton have also left.

McElduff, assistant coach at Worthing for eight-and-a-half years, took over from Jones, but resigned yesterday, having been in charge for just one game. The American forward Ryan Williams has taken over the running of the team until the end of the season.

Christian Hamilton, the Worthing co-owner and director of operations, hopes Swords will be back in the team for the visit of Crystal Palace on Saturday in the Uni-ball Trophy.

Burns, who is 6ft 2in and will take over at point guard from Cuff, played five games for Watford Royals at the beginning of the season. Francis, 6ft 3in, had four years at Fairfield University during which he played in 115 games.