SOLENT Stars' co-owner and chairman Bob Paulley is putting concern for basketball's ailing national scene at the very top of his priority list.

Along with two other representatives from the Conference League, Paulley has been working hard to try and halt a deeply worrying decline, which has already had repercussions on Stars' own doorstep.

South coast neighbours Portsmouth withdrew from the National League earlier this month and Paulley believes that if the sickness at the top of

the sport is not remedied, Pompey could be just the tip of the iceberg.

The English Basketball Association has reportedly lost in excess of £140,000 for the second year running, bringing accumulated losses to date to over £1m.

In the last six years, Paulley has invested a lot of time and money in the sport he loves, but he has seen success on the court offset by shrinking crowds, lack of help from local authorities and the fact that government funding is not being channelled down to the clubs effectively.

Clubs like Solent are largely left to support themselves and Paulley stressed: "I am determined that everybody is aware of what is happening within our sport.

"England Basketball, who are responsible for business planning, have appointed inexperienced professional staff and are governed by elected people, some of whom are too proud to step down from their coveted positions. The potential result is that the sport will suffer even more."

The bleak picture does not stop there. The England national team's results are poor, the separate Basketball League organisation is unsure of its future funding and development work is virtually dependent on volunteers within the game.

England Basketball have reportedly spent over £30,000 in consultation fees to find the answer but, according to Paulley, member clubs believe the current board of directors lack the business experience to drive the sport forward and seem determined not to heed sound advice from within the game.

He said: "The annual meeting is being held today and if nothing changes then the clubs will be facing an uphill battle and asking themselves - where do we go from here?

"Another split or even the creation of a new association is not what the sport needs at present, but perhaps such a radical step is what has to happen to achieve a more positive way forward."

Stars aim to tame Sutton Pumas

DEFENCE has been high on Solent Stars' coach Mark Scott's agenda ahead of tonight's home test against Sutton Pumas in the National Conference.

Although the free-scoring Stars rattled in 107 points away at league leaders Teesside Mohawks last Saturday, their generosity

at the other end of the court cost them a 16-point defeat.

Sutton were also on the losing side last Saturday, crashing 107-103 against Reading Rockets.

It was a a stormy game that spilled into overtime and saw ex-Stars favourite Paul Mundy-Castle ejected from the court after receiving his fifth foul.

Stars have already been clawed twice by the Pumas in the National Trophy this

season and dangerman Mundy-Castle racked up a tidy total of 44 points in the 116-77 demolition job at Fleming Park.

Stars have smartened up their act since then. New American Dominique Jones has provided added strength in the scoring and rebound departments and Mark Jackson is

playing as well as he ever has for Solent, plundering 35 points against the Mohawks last week.

Despite missing the last two games, David Butterworth remains the club's leading scorer and looks set to return tonight.

Tip-off is 8pm at Fleming Park.