Where do Surrey Scorchers go from here?

[tvtigersfan]

I’ve followed this franchise since the first game at the Spectrum in 2005. As you can tell from my username, my affinity with the club goes even further back than that, so I feel I have at least some authority to say this season has been the worst in the franchise’s history. Even if you go as far back as the 1970s (I know, I know, not actually the same franchise), it was never as bad as this.

I’ve tried expressing this disappointment on social media but have been outnumbered by fans saying the lads are trying their best, onwards and upwards, get behind coach Creon. It is totally bonkers. I get that, like many BBL clubs, we have a very small core of actual basketball fans and the rest is families who see it as entertainment, an alternative to the cinema or laser quest, rather than a sport. But surely even those customers will get tired soon.

So my question on this forum, among proper basketball fans and before everyone’s attentions turn to the playoffs, is where the hell do Surrey Scorchers go from here?

Surely, in any other BBL club, any other pro sports outfit, any other job even, when objectives are not being met year on year, there has to be a resignation or sacking. The buck stops with Creon. He is responsible for the revolving door culture at the club, the game plan (or lack of) and the motivation of our squad. There has been no long-term plan. Just bring in guys who don’t care, want to get fit and then move on as fast as they can - apart from Tayo.

His tactics have to be questioned. Sure, he is limited with our much-discussed-but-never-confirmed low budget but I’ve seen nothing to suggest he could be trusted to recruit any better with a bigger budget. It is comical how often he calls a time out to set up a play that results in not just Surrey not making the shot but turning the ball over and conceding in transition. We haven’t played D for years. It’s a joke. He has already publicly announced he will be stepping down as head coach in two years. Why wait? He’s a really nice man and does a lot behind the scenes to keep things running but Surrey are a pro sports club and this level of continuous failure cannot go on. The rot has set in and the coach is responsible for making the same mistakes year in, year out in terms of recruitment, maximisation of a modest budget and tactics.

We hear the constant excuses about injuries and it is true, it has handicapped us to the point of no return this season. Our luck has been awful. But that hasn’t cost us the season. Even when everyone was fit, we never looked remotely competitive. Even in previous years when we had high level individuals on the roster, Creon couldn’t bring it together to push for a PO spot. What do you have to do to lose your job at Surrey? If he is head coach next season, what message does that send out to any future recruits?

This isn’t just a rant about how bad we have been - although yes, it is that as well. I see this as more of an existential question about the future of the franchise after years of decline on the court. My concern is surely the university will pull its funding in the end, who wants to be associated with perpetual failure and defeat?

I actually think now is time to be talking about stepping down to NBL1. This is the problem with no relegation system, it rewards failure. It wouldn’t affect the crowds, people would still come as an alternative to the cinema and the small band of fans would remain. Without increased funding (if that truly is the issue) or changing the coach, how can the ownership legitimately say Surrey is serious about competing at BBL level anymore? Maybe it is time to drop down to NBL1 and compete with Solent, Hemel and Worthing instead. Thoughts?

We all know the constraints of the budget, without knowing the detail. I’m a realist. I know Surrey will never be a top 4 club or winning silverware, I get that. I just want to see a club that can actually be competitive in matches and maybe win some or even push for the top 8. That should be the bare minimum for any BBL franchise. If you don’t have the financial clout, you have to recruit smart, coach smart and play smart… we don’t seem to have the personnel to do that right now.

So, what next?

[dexter]

With the addition of teams like Worcester Wolves and Surrey Scorchers, NBL D1 can be a really good and popular league, and the highest level for British university based teams. Ultimately the BBL should be made up of professional clubs with bigger budgets. BBL has a lot further to go to become the league it ought to be. It's a lot easier to see how NBL D1 can go from strength to strength.

[Solly]

tvtigersfan - all of this (at least the recent barren years) revolves around Creon.

Either he has undue power at the club or the people with power at the club are gullible enough to allow Creon to mug them off with excuses year-after-year.

Every club, to a greater or lesser extent, has issues around budgets and injuries.

Surrey attract near full houses year-after-year yet do little to repay that loyalty. Maybe that loyalty is actually being further abused in that it allows the organization to continue to flounder without the pressure of falling attendances.

NBL vs BBL - if going NBL means that a huge franchise fee would have to be paid again to return to the BBL then they may as well stay BBL. And they would not necessarily even cut it in the NBL - just look at how many embarrassing defeats they have suffered to NBL sides over the years, Solent, Derby, Worthing etc...

[dandayr]

Apr 25, 2022 0:01:38 GMT tvtigersfan said:

I actually think now is time to be talking about stepping down to NBL1. This is the problem with no relegation system, it rewards failure. 

Is that even feasible? Surely another aspect of the no relegation system is if a club goes BBL to NBL they don't just parachute into D1 but need to start at the lowest level as is it not D1 D2 and D3 seen as the pro, so have to start at D3? 

[A tall man]

Spot on TV tigers

[dexter]

What's stopping them from entering a team into D3 South whilst still in the BBL for 2022-23 season, winning promotion, and leaving the BBL at the end of that season to play in D2 South in 2023-24 season. For 2024-25 they should be in NBL D1.

[D44]

When you don't necessarily have the budget for a deep squad you roll the dice on key players staying fit. For Surrey this hasn't happened.

If Surrey want to go anywhere its time to look for new ownership, there's only so far a team can go whilst relying on scholarships and not being ran as a commercial business. Bearing in mind the attendances, existing BBL status and turn key venue availability must be attractive to anyone looking to invest in a team rather than the huge startup cost of a new franchise.

If there going to stay as a Uni team they are probably are better off in NBL.

[rickdanger]

Went down to Surrey following Derby in the BBL trophy game. Before the game the home fans were positive after just beating the Lions and Davies Jnr was returning too. Derby scored 60 first half points with ease and we were missing 3 key players too. Surrey defensively were not good but at 23 points down the crowd got loud, Hamrick was on fire and the place was rocking but we just held on. The support and facility were great but the team was generally disjointed and that showed for the rest of the BBL season. The support deserves a strong BBL franchise and I hope the team is more competitive next season.