Richardson unveiled as Giants coach

Mansfield Giants Basketball Club have unveiled Martin Richardson as the new head coach to their senior men's team for their debut season in the national EBL.

Martin, from Hucknall, is a well-known name on the Nottinghamshire Basketball scene and has in the past coached juniors at both local and national league levels.

Martin is also the head coach at Nottingham University and has coached their men's team for the last three years in the Universities BUSA competition.

Director of coaching Ian Richards said: "We are very pleased that Martin has accepted the post of head coach.

"We have known him for a long time. He has worked on some of our junior basketball camps and coached against us as the opposition in the past.

"Although Martin is quite young in terms of coaching, at 28 his past record tells us that he is ambitious and he has a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding the game.

"He also gives 100 per cent, making him the ideal man for the job. He is just the type of coach that we were looking for."

Richards added: "This is going to be a tough first year for Martin working with so many talented and accomplished seasoned players like Guy Renton, Czech EU player Jiri Mzika and team captain and assistant coach Danny Richards.

"But, every one in the club is behind him and will give him all the support we can to be successful.

"On speaking to Martin we all agree that this is the right move for him at the right time in his coaching career.

"We welcome Martin on board whole-heartedly and wish him every success."

NMSB Giants are entering both men's and women's sides at national level next season.

Giants men will play in EBL Division Four North alongside a new WNC Mansfield Express second team while Giants women will play EBL Division Two North.

Giants will play home games on Saturday evenings at the new Oak Tree Lane Leisure Centre where they expect to have a capacity of around 300.