Voynova ‘pleaded’ with boss Blake to save club

DIANA Voynova was devasted to learn of Northumbria University’s shock decision to ditch top-flight women’s basketball this summer.

The Bulgarian international revealed she pleaded with Newcastle Eagles bosses to save the club she loves as Team Northumbria’s future hung in the balance.

Voynova studied at the university, played for TN and worked for Northumbria’s sport department during two celebrated spells on Tyneside.

She returns to Sport Central with the London Lions for this afternoon’s Cup clash and is relieved her former club lived to fight another day as the rebranded Newcastle Eagles WBBL.

Veteran Voynova said: “I was absolutely gutted at Northumbria’s decision to end its association with top-flight women’s basketball.

“The idea there might not be a team in the city was just horrible.

“It is a club with so much history and it has always been one of the best clubs in the league.

“Newcastle and Sport Central is always going to be home for me.

“I could not believe what I was reading about Northumbria – to potentially not have a WBBL club was too much to stomach.

“When I was back in the North East in the summer I pleaded with Paul and Sam Blake at Newcastle Eagles to do everything they could to save the club.”

■■ NEWCASTLE Eagles and London Lions tip off at 4.00. Tickets are on sale on the door.