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The Christchurch-based Sirens women's basketball franchise have been dumped from the Australian league (WNBL), after a single season.
The team's future became uncertain two weeks ago when a sponsor withdrew and left the team with insufficient funding to stay in Christchurch.
Wellington Saints general manager Nick Mills began investigating prospects of moving the team to Wellington, but the team was withdrawn from the league earlier this week because Basketball Australia was unable to delay the release of the draw any longer.
Basketball New Zealand chief executive Dale Stephens said the decision was a blow to the women's programme.
"We still see the Sirens as an important part of our pathway towards the Tall Ferns and hope this is not the end of the concept," he said.
"While their fate is sealed this season, we still intend moving the franchise to another city and establishing a new management structure that can sustain it on a long-term basis."
Basketball New Zealand would now have to convince Basketball Australia to allow the team back into the competition for 2009/10.
- NZPA
