Invitation club tournament looks doomed

Basketball

Basketball

The World Invitation Club tournament seems certain to disappear from the sports calendar for the first time in 19 seasons, as the founder and organiser, David Last, struggles to find an alternative date to its traditional new year slot at Crystal Palace, writes Duncan Hooper.

Last hoped to move the international event to later in the season after lack of television coverage and sponsorship was compounded by a double booking at the National Sports Centre.

"The NSC can't give me the weekends either side of the Wembley play offs at the beginning of May, which would be the best option," said Last.

"Dates earlier than those clash with full programmes in the Budweiser League so it would be hard to involve English clubs."