WNBL: SEQ Stars to cease operations immediately

WNBL club South East Queensland (SEQ) Stars has today gone into liquidation according to reports.

In a statement, the club has announced that they will be put into the hands of liquidators and cease operations immediately.

The club will no longer continue in the women's national competition and there is no certainty that the club will even see out the current 2015/16 Wattle Valley WNBL season.

SEQ Stars being wound-up. Deloitte appointed as liquidators. Operations to "cease immediately". Team had 5 games to play in @WNBL season.

— Greg Davis (@GregDavis_cmail) February 3, 2016

Stars chairman Jarrod Sierocki made a statement on Wednesday that the club simply had no other option.

“Unfortunately a lack of attendance, community following and sponsorship revenue has severely impacted on the club and the losses simply can’t be sustained. It is with great regret that it has come to this,” Sierocki declared.

“We were very pleased with the performance of the team and the effort by the players to play a great style of basketball. To be sitting fifth and in the hunt for the finals in our first year was a great credit to the players and staff.

“We’d like to sincerely thank our fans who have supported the team.”

Despite an 11-8 record, sitting fifth on the current WNBL ladder, the Stars have gone through their share of distractions in their inaugural season.

Marquee signing Erin Phillips was the poster player for the start-up franchise, only to never step foot on the hardwood in a Stars uniform.

Import issues were well publicised as well, when DeNesha Stallworth departed only to end up at rival club University of Canberra Capitals. In addition to this, rumours swirled that both Stallworth and fellow import Ify Ibekwe were displeased with the club, however Ibekwe took time away to be with her father who was unwell at the time.

After a booming start to the season, which saw the fresh faced club at the top of the WNBL ladder, the Stars have had their struggles on the court, which included a 25 point loss to the Sydney Uni Flames in round seven followed by a 21 point home loss to Perth a week later.

While more details are to come, many questions are on the table.

Will the Stars play out their remaining five regular season games? Will players and staff of the club be payed out appropriately?

These are just some of what many will be pondering in their minds. Stay tuned for more details.