England Basketball has released a press statement in which they deny they were ever told that they were "not fit for purpose".

 

The statement said: "Both FIBA and England Basketball were separately and officially supplied with draft copies of the Mallin Review on Monday March 5. 

 

"The Executive Board of England Basketball independently provided its views on the contents to the Minister and Sport England.

 

"Nowhere in the draft Mallin report does it explicitly say that England Basketball is 'not fit for purpose'. 

 

"That statement emanated from a Sport England staff member, and the Minister for Sport, at a meeting with the FIBA President and Secretary General, the FIBA Europe Secretary General and the Chair of England Basketball on Tuesday May 8 2007. 

 

"The Minister initiated the review and Sport England ceased funding basketball, including England Basketball, during the review process.

 

"The draft conclusions of the report included the setting up of a new Government-influenced organisation for basketball, equalling a certification of 'not fit for purpose'. 

 

"No factual evidence was produced to substantiate the statement in order to justify such action against England Basketball.

 

"The draft Mallin report states that 'the current organisation of basketball in England is untenable'. 

 

"In the context of the report this also implicates other basketball organisations in England such as the English Schools Basketball Association and the British Basketball League. 

 

"No factual evidence was included to substantiate the statement.

 

"Sport England ceased core funding of England Basketball from September 2006 'subject to progress with, and the outcomes of, the Mallin Review'. 

 

"Since that time the review process has been significantly delayed. 

 

"It appears that the contents of the review were known to other basketball stakeholders, but not to England Basketball.

 

"England Basketball has no issue with UK Sport regarding the organisation of this year's British teams via British Performance Basketball Ltd (BPB). 

 

"This company was established in agreement with the British Basketball Federation (BBF; jointly owned by the basketball governing bodies for Scotland, England and Wales - and recognised by FIBA and FIBA Europe) which is represented on the BPB Board by Bill McInnes (Chair of BBF).

 

"The England Basketball website (www.englandbasketball.co.uk) contains up-to-date evidence of progress, along with details of the 2006 annual Report that provide clear and tangible evidence that the organisation is achieving its Sport England approved targets and is clearly 'fit for purpose'.

 

"Representatives from England Basketball and Sport England are scheduled to meet in the near future. 

 

"Hopefully these talks will avert the threatened suspension of English teams and players, from competing in the European championships, from being enforced."