Cheshire Phoenix have no shortage of options as they search for a new head coach to lead them in the 2016-17 season.
The club announced last week that John Lavery’s two-year contract was not being renewed after a campaign which saw them finish seventh in the British Basketball League and reach the semi-finals of the play-offs.
Following the news that Lavery was not being retained as the club’s paid head coach, Nix officials received 20 applications within 48 hours.
Related story:Nix announce Lavery is leaving
CVs came in from coaches in the UK, across Europe and also America.
Club chairman Mike Burton has now formed a recruitment committee, alongside general manager James Brice and board member and shareholder Adam Day, to sift through the applications and pick the right person for the job.
A Nix statement read: “It is a reflection on the hard work and dedication invested into building our brand and Mr Burton’s solid reputation in the industry as chairman and Wales senior men’s assistant coach that we have received such a number of quality applicants who wish to work with him and the club.”
Lavery, who has a long association with the Ellesmere Port -based club as a player, assistant coach and head coach, replaced New Yorker John Coffino in 2015.
Related story:Nix miss out on BBL Play-Off final
Popular Coffino had guided the Nix to a fourth-placed finish in the 2014-15 season and a semi-final play-off place, before falling one hurdle short of reaching the final last season too in what was a memorable campaign.
The decision not to renew his contract was confirmed in a club statement which read: “At a board meeting, it was confirmed that the club would not be appointing John Lavery as a paid head coach for next season.
“John’s two-year fixed term sponsored contract as a community coach comes to end this summer and the club would like to thank him for all of his hard work, both on and off the court.”
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