BURY Blue Devils' new player coach Jason Knowles is backing the MABL Championship side to clinch promotion by winning the league title this season.

With both the league runners-up and the team who wins the play-off final considered for promotion last year, the Bury-based side thought they had a chance of playing Premier Division basketball this term after winning the play-offs and finishing third in the league.

However, having been denied that opportunity, Knowles, who has taking over from Manchester Giants bound Mike Nichols, believes the Devils will benefit from another year in the Championship.

"From my perspective I didn't anticipate us getting promoted because although we won the play-offs we finished in third place in the league. Even last year's runners-up, YMCA, failed to gain promotion," he said.

"I think another year in this division is good for us. Hopefully we can have a settled season where we are playing at a level we know we are comfortable at.

"I think a big step up into the Premier Division with new additions to the team and a new coach is a big ask.

"The aim for this season is to win this league and then we will be ready."

Knowles has already brought in new faces to help springboard the promotion bid with the capture of Lithuanian Vitoldas Balciunas and the return of Graham Green, although Chris Stainton has moved to Division One side Cardinal Langley.

"We've got some really good additions this season.

"Vitoldas is a very good player and old boy Graham Green is also back with us after spending last season with the Lancashire Spinners.

"We are much stronger this year so I think we will can win the league quite comfortably."

And Knowles is relishing the opportunity of mixing his playing career with a coaching role.

"I'm pretty confident about the situation," he said.

"Mike was away for the play-offs last year so I was the player coach when we defeated previously unbeaten Free City on finals weekend.

"We are just going to take each game as it comes."

With a derby game against local rivals Whitefield Mavericks coming up later this month, Knowles is confident his Devils side can get the better of their newly-promoted neighbours.

"We train together and beat them every week in training," he said.

"We know them inside and out, so something would have to go terribly wrong for us to lose that game.

"They've added a few players and are looking a bit stronger but obviously they were promoted by default last year so it's going to be a big step up for them because I think there is a big gap between the Championship and Division One in terms of talent."