BASKETBALL: DUNK TIME: HOW THE TEAMS LINE UP FOR THE NEW SEASON

THE championship is in two conferences, North and South, with the top four from each contesting play-offs to decide the champion and dispensing with a League format. Under new sponsors replacing Budweiser, the competition will rejoice in the name of the Dairylea Dunkers Championship. The three major moves saw Steve Bucknall return from the Continent to the Towers, Travis Conlan leave Sheffield for Manchester and John McCord join Edinburgh from Thames Valley. Other major ins and outs:

BIRMINGHAM BULLETS

Out: Reggie Kirk. In: Yorick Williams (Derby), Lee Walker (TV Tigers), Americans Shawn Jamison and Corey Jackson (Newcastle). Coach, Mike Finger.

BRIGHTON BEARS

Uprooted from Worthing to the new Brighton Centre. In: Richard Scantlebury and Mike Brown (Milton Keynes) and seven feet tall former Boston Celtic Bill Claxton. Coach, Charles Luke-Bannerman.

CHESTER JETS

Pre season injuries cost them John Leahy and Kenny Pratt. In: English veteran Steve Nelson, Americans Greg Francis, Correy Child and New Zealander Pero Cameron. Coach, Robbie Peers.

DERBY STORM

New arena, The Thunder Dome. Out: Everybody except Tim Lascelles. In: Americans Cyptheus Bunton, Darrian Evans and Frank Harris. New coach, Martin Ford.

EDINBURGH ROCKS

In: John McCord (TV Tigers), Joel Burns (Derby). Coach, Jim Brandon.

LEICESTER CITY RIDERS

Out: All the non English. In: Canadians Robin Wilson and Kevin Gilroy, Americans John Potter, Tony Moore, Troy Coleman, all star Englishman Kevin St Kitts. New coach, Tim Darling.

LONDON LEOPARDS

Captain Robert Youngblood again leads a new bunch. In: Americans Kenny Capers, Brandon Brantley, Larry Johnson (Not the NY Knicks version) Coach, Billy Mims.

LONDON TOWERS

Play-off champions. In: Former LA laker Steve Bucknall, Neville Austin, American Donnie Johnson. New coach, Ron Abegglen.

MANCHESTER GIANTS

League Trophy Holders. Out: John White, Makeeba Perry (to Japan). In: Travis Conlan (Sheffield), Ray Carter (Iceland), Americans Phil Handy and Roy Hairston. Coach, Nick Nurse.

MILTON KEYNES LIONS

In: Americans Eric Burks (Leopards), Tony Windless, Kelvin Robinson, Modie (Correct) Cox. New coach, Tom Hancock.

NEWCASTLE EAGLES

In: New owners and new Americans Shahid Perkins, Andrew Mavis (Chester), Charles Smith and Canadian Chris Webber. Coach, Craig Lynch.

SHEFFIELD SHARKS

Cup holders and the last League champions. Out: Travis Conlan. In: Nate Reinking (Derby) and American Andre McCloud. Coach, Chris Finch

THAMES VALLEY TIGERS

Out: John McCord, Lee Walker. In: Martin Gottfried (Towers), Stuart Robbins (Wales), Americans Greg Meldrum (Chester), Bill Singleton (Leicester) and Tony Christie. Coach, Paul James.