THE fight to save Chester Jets reaches a key point this weekend as club officials present their survival plan to the British Basketball League.
A question mark hangs over the future of the former BBL champions after Jets supremo Mike Burton retired as head coach and director, leaving a huge void to fill both on and off the court.
Although committee members and fans have rallied to keep Jets going, there are major financial hurdles to clear before the recruitment of players can be considered.
The first major hurdle will be tackled in Newcastle this weekend when Chester will put their business plan to BBL officials in the hope it will convince them they will be able to run a team next season.
Jets team manager Andy Green said: 'We believe we have done enough to secure our place in the league, but we are still only 10% of the way toward fielding a team next season because we still need to bring sponsorship in.'
BBL spokesman Andy Webb confirmed that the league's franchise committee would look over the Jets' business plan this weekend.
If problems arise, Chester will have until the end of next week to come up with the solutions.
Webb said: 'We have a deadline of May 4 by which time we must have all our teams for next season ratified and there is not much flexibility in that.
'Chester will need to demonstrate, as all clubs who change ownership need to demonstrate, not only that their business plan makes them viable for next season, but that it takes them forward and develops the club in subsequent seasons.
'It is not a make-or-break process - it is a two-way discussion. If there are things which can be done better or which need to be changed, the Jets will not simply be turned away.
'These things will be pointed out and discussed to give the team a chance to improve their plan.'
Both the Jets and the BBL are confident that the Chester franchise will have a place in next year's championship, but the real work will take place this summer as the club tries to rake in the £75,000 it needs to compete.
Green added: 'We have negotiated 18 Sunday games for next season with Northgate Arena who have been very suppor tive.
'They are offering a hospitality package for sponsors to gather and meet the team and players after the game and where food and refreshments will be on of fer.
'It is just one of the incentives we have created to attract potential sponsors. We need to attract businesses of any size to contribute to our budget.'
