The British Basketball Federation (BBF) has collapsed into liquidation, a move the owner of Manchester Basketball claims was preventable had the governing body heeded repeated warnings from clubs.
A Predictable Collapse
The BBF, which was responsible for running the Great Britain national teams and securing crucial UK Sport funding, appointed an insolvency firm last week. This followed a costly and protracted legal dispute with Super League Basketball (SLB) and its clubs. The conflict centred on the licensing of the men's professional league, stemming from the BBF's decision to tender and agree a 15-year deal with a prospective US investor, GBBL.
Ben Pierson, the owner of Manchester Basketball, told City AM that the liquidation was deeply regrettable. His primary concern was for the dedicated staff and volunteers who had supported British basketball. He stated that for over a year, SLB made it clear to former BBF chair Chris Grant and the BBF board that their approach was damaging the sport, went against accepted UK governance practices, and in many instances, breached UK law.
These warnings were not acted upon, and the repercussions are now being felt across the sport.
The Fallout and a Path Forward
The BBF's demise has triggered significant upheaval. World governing body Fiba suspended the BBF and established a task force to make the British club game compliant. In a significant development, Fiba has since granted SLB recognised status. Meanwhile, Basketball England is understood to have taken over many of the BBF's former responsibilities, including managing a GB team with scheduled World Cup qualifiers next week.
In its own statement, the BBF blamed its slide into liquidation on a significant and unanticipated reduction in income alongside unforeseen expenditure.
Pierson believes this difficult moment presents a genuine opportunity for the sport to reset. He emphasised that with the right collaboration across all stakeholders, basketball in Britain can move forward on a far healthier and more coherent path.
Conflicting Accounts and Legal Threats
The warring parties remain bound for the High Court, with SLB having begun its second season earlier this autumn without a formal licence from the BBF.
In response to the accusations, the BBF stated it remains committed to working with relevant parties to conclude the insolvency process while maintaining stability for Great Britain's international competitions.
Chris Grant, who stepped down just days before Fiba's suspension, defended the BBF's actions. He argued that the process of awarding a licence to GBBL was fair and meticulously conducted. Grant claimed the licence would have secured a sustainable future for the BBF and provided a proper academy system for young British talent, something he alleges the clubs failed to deliver over decades.
He characterised SLB's campaign as an effort to undermine the BBF and halt the biggest ever financial investment into British basketball, driven by a narrow vision and a monumental sense of entitlement.
Adding to the legal complexities, GBBL, fronted by former NBA executive Marshall Glickman, has warned it may seek legal action to recover significant sums of money it had already paid to the now-liquidated BBF.
