BBL Championship winners, Chester Jets, have confirmed Billy Singleton as their new player/coach.

The 37 year-old New York native  replaces Paul Smith who steps down for personal reasons. Smith, along with former chief Mike Burton, will serve as Singleton's assistants.

"I’m absolutely delighted, super-delighted”, Singleton enthused. “It’ll be my fifth season involved with the Jets so I know the club well.  I’ve also got good back-up from Mike Burton who is one of the most forward-thinking minds in British sport and a master basketball strategist in Paul Smith.

“I just want us to be as successful as we possibly can and to maintain what we have built over the last few years.  Some silverware would also be great after the recent success the club has had”.

The American veteran has played four seasons for the Jets in all, his first spell being between 1995-97 with his return coming in 2003. Last year he held an assistant coaching role at the club.

He first played in the UK in 1990 with Queens, Belfast and has also had stints with the Scottish Rocks and Thames Valley. He has 11 seasons
worth of playing experience in the BBL and last season averaged nearly 21 minutes per game, scoring 7.80 points off 54.67% floor shooting and pulling down 4.48 rebounds per game.

Having already started recruiting, the Jets are understood to have agreed terms with centre Calvin Davis. However Trey Moore is expected to depart despite his lead role in guiding the side to the title last term.

“Continuity is a major priority,” he acknowledged. "We are trying to retain the core of last year’s team.  It has also been a bit of a tradition here at Chester over the last few seasons where they have kept a lot of the important players year after year.”