Stanley to leave the Blazers

OLI Stanley, a lynchpin of the club’s success in recent years, is to leave Derby Trailblazers.

Having spent all but one season with the Trailblazers since 2010, Stanley is to move to London for work.

A tenacious defender and shot blocker, Stanley was a key player when Derby were Divission One runners-up in 2015-16 and a series of top-four finishes since.

“I’m deeply disappointed to see Oli leaving the club, but it goes without saying that he goes with our best wishes,” said head coach Matt Shaw.

“He’s been a phenomenal servant to the club and a brilliant player.

“I’ve absolutely loved coaching him over the best part of a decade and he’s going to be very sadly missed.

“He told us this summer that he was going to be moving to London, but then when he wasn’t able to find somewhere to live, he said he was happy to register with us and we were perhaps almost in denial and hoping he wouldn’t leave.

“However, he’s now managed to sort the accommodation issue out and consequently his work will see him moving to London.

“Fingers crossed he’ll keep on playing somewhere once he’s settled there, because it would be such a waste if someone that talented and such a good teammate had to give up playing basketball.”