Mark Lloyd has been appointed manager of England's men's basketball team for Gold Coast 2018 ©Basketball England

Basketball England have appointed Mark Lloyd as manager of its men's squad at next year's Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. 

The appointment marks the 20th year Llody has been involved in the management and coaching staff of both England and Great Britain teams. 

"I’m both extremely happy and proud to be appointed to the staff of the England Commonwealth Games Team," he said. 

Last month, it was announced Greece's Andreas Kapoulas has been appointed head coach of the England’s men’s for Gold Coast 2018.

Kapoulas, the play-caller for British Basketball League side Bristol Flyers, is head coach for Great Britain’s under-20 men’s team he successfully led to promotion to Division A back in August.

"With the support of Basketball England and Sport England we have been able to put together a programme that will give the players and staff the opportunity to achieve great things at next year’s Games," Lloyd, currently head coach of the University of Essex Blades, said.

"A day in the life of a team manager is never the same as the last. 

"That is what makes it both so enjoyable and challenging as a job."

Basketball will be making only its second appearance in the Commonwealth Games.

It was last held at Melbourne 2006 when England won the bronze medal, beating Nigeria 78-75 in the third-place play-off as Australia defeated New Zealand 81-76 in the final. 

England won the Commonwealth Games bronze medal at Melbourne 2006 - the last time the sport was included on the programme - beating Nigeria 78-75 in the third placed playoff ©Getty Images
England won the Commonwealth Games bronze medal at Melbourne 2006 - the last time the sport was included on the programme - beating Nigeria 78-75 in the third placed playoff ©Getty Images

England’s men’s team are due to open their Gold Coast 2018 campaign against Scotland at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on April 5.

That will be followed by games against fellow Pool B rivals India and Cameroon on April 7 and 8 respectively.

Pool A of the men's event features Australia, Canada, Nigeria and New Zealand.

A total of 12 preliminary matches are due to be held in both Cairns and Townsville in both the men's and women's tournaments.

Following the conclusion of the pool stage, the top two teams in Pool A in the two competitions will progress to the semi-finals.

The bottom two nations will join the top Pool B sides for the qualifying finals.

The winners of the qualifying finals will then advance to the semi-final and medal matches scheduled to be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 13 to 15.