Superleague sides seek Euro assistance

Representatives of the four remaining Superleague teams will meet their British National League counterparts next Monday to discuss a merger, but it seems more likely that they will boost their numbers with European teams.

Nottingham's owner Neil Black insisted the Superleague would continue next season, possibly with the addition of European opposition - Amsterdam Tigers and Milan Vipers have been mentioned - and criticised the BNL sides for their lack of ambition.

"They are in a downward spiral and if they don't aspire to be more successful then their teams are going nowhere," he said. "I admit we have made mistakes at Superleague level, mainly that we didn't include enough British players in our teams, and we will be putting that right.

"There are some BNL teams with ambition and we want them on board and are looking at teams from leading Euro pean leagues to keep the interest alive. I think our supporters would sooner watch Milan than Hull or Basingstoke."

The remaining clubs have set themselves a deadline of December 31 to organise their plans for next season. No doubt they will be hoping for encouraging signs in terms of attendance when the four compete in this Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-finals in Sheffield.

After losing the Scottish Eagles and Manchester Storm last month the league received a further blow when Bracknell Bees gave notice to quit at the end of the season and join the semi-professional BNL, leaving only London, Belfast, Sheffield and Nottingham.

The Bees' owner John Nike, one of the founders of the Superleague, took his decision after the first meeting between the leagues just over a week ago, their first in six years, ended with little hope of a rapprochement. His plans for a merger with promotion and relegation were scuppered by what he said was "resistance from certain arena clubs".