Basketball: Nemeth in line for Storm coaching role

Derby Storm have turned to England's Hungarian coach, Laszlo Nemeth, to fill the gap left by Steve Tucker's return to America last week.

Nemeth watched the Budweiser League side's 73-71 win over Chester Jets on Saturday - their first victory in five games - under stand-in coach Jeff Jones, who had been replaced by Tucker during the summer but stepped in again last week.

The club confirmed their discussions with Nemeth, who is currently steering the national men's team through their European Championship semi-final round programme, and with his employers, the English Basketball Association.

A club spokesman said: "A number of contractual and legal conditions need to be addressed before a firm appointment can be made.

"The situation is being handled with the full support of the association and will not compromise the coach's national schedules or duties, which take precedence."

Although Nemeth has a work permit for his role with the association, he will need another to coach at club level.

England opened their championship programme in November with victory in Denmark, but then lost at home to Spain and the Ukraine and are now long-shots to take one of the two guaranteed qualifying places for the 1999 finals in France. England are away to Belarus and at home to Israel next month, with the five return fixtures to be held next season.

Jones expects to be in charge for Derby's home game against Woking Bears on Thursday, and said: "I'm happy to carry on in this role as long as necessary and to help out in the future if that's what they want."