FANS of the Cheshire Jets have been having their say since news broke that the club’s British Basketball League franchise had been taken away from club owner Haydn Cook.

Since The Chronicle broke the news that the Jets faced a new battle for survival via our website on Tuesday, Twitter and Facebook have been full of messages of support for the club.

The BBL withdrew the Jets franchise from Chester businessman Cook after he contacted them to inform them he planned to release the club’s professional players from their contracts and investigate ways to run the Jets on an amateur basis.

The BBL, holding the franchise for now, should safeguard the club’s future in the short term and allow Sunday’s derby match against Mersey Tigers at the Northgate Arena to take place, but a new owner would be needed to ensure the club’s continued survival.

On Twitter there was plenty of reaction to the news that the Jets faced another fight for their lives just a month after seemingly overcoming a crisis.

@DIDCarol wrote: “It’s a tragedy for players and most of all the best fans ever in the BBL #JetsCrisis so very wrong.”

@andysfisher added: “Very sad news. I hope the club can continue in BBL 2012/13 and fear if we don't we’ll be gone.”

Fan @KevoOwen tweeted: “So, so gutted. With those performances this weekend things were obviously coming together. #JetsCrisis.”

And Jets matchday DJ @CarloSafina also had his say, writing: “@CheshireJets really hope you can find the resources to stay alive! #havefaith.”

On Facebook Jason Hill, who has supported the Jets all his life and works with dad Dave on the bench, simply posted: “End of an era.”

Dedicated Jets fan Lisa Jayne Scruton was clearly hurt by the news.

She wrote: “Devastated doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface... miracle required.”

Cook took on the Jets after attending meetings held by fans to try to save the club after former owner Pete Hawkins put it up for sale six weeks before the start of the BBL Championship season.

With three weeks to go, Cook stepped in.

He admitted at the time it was a gamble but the early signs were good as supporters and volunteers who had drifted away returned.

But this week Cook dropped the bombshell that he could no longer afford to run the club, prompting the BBL to take action and casting the club’s future into doubt.

Jets fell to an overtime loss at Leicester Riders on Saturday (79-75) before being beaten at home to the London Lions on Sunday (82-75).