LANCASHIRE Spinners have appointed former Manchester Giants assistant Neal Hopkins as head coach ahead of their first season in NBL Division One.

It is the Bury-based club’s first off season move since gaining promotion to the second tier of English basketball and it is one that falls in line with the team’s philosophy of young and local opportunity.

The appointment will see 2014/15’s player-coach Steven Gayle shift into a player only role due to new league regulations that state teams must have an assigned coach.

Currently the head coach at Myerscough College in Bilsborrow, the 27-year-old is also an assistant in the England under-18s setup – two roles he will continue alongside his duties with Spinners.

Head coach Hopkins said: “It’s was a crazy 48 hours. I want to extend my gratitude to Ken Masser as it was an easy decision to accept.

“I am highly ambitious as is everyone involved with the Spinners, it is going to be a pleasure to lead the team during our first year in Division I.”

The newest addition to Spinners’ coaching staff has an already distinguished track recorded having spent three seasons apiece as an assistant at both Mersey Tigers, where he won the treble in 2010, and Manchester Giants.

In 2015, Hopkins led Myerscough to an Elite Academy Basketball League title and as a X’s and O’s coach, he hopes to continue fostering a highly competitive organisation that won the Patrons Cup last season.

He added: “Everybody contributes to the mentality of a team and I want to have 12 guys who can contribute at any point during a game.

“Winning is going to be a collective effort. The brand of basketball we will play will be worth watching.”