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THE Adelaide 36ers have been sold to a syndicate of businessmen which includes management of Titanium Security Arena, the club’s NBL playing venue.

The club was sold by its previous ownership group, the SOS consortium, for an undisclosed fee but with millionaire Melbourne businessman Larry Kestelman recently buying controlling interest in the eight-team league for $6million, it is believed to be worth around $750,000.

Bruce Spangler, previously a chairman of the NBL and the current chairman of Arena Stadium Management which operates TS Arena - formerly Adelaide Arena and originally the Clipsal Powerhouse – said it would be “business as usual”.

“It’s a very exciting time,” said Spangler, the 36ers’ new club chairman.

“The Arena will be dealing with the management of the club and the 36ers will be supported by a number of business people.

“We’re already a long way down the path of contracting players and all staff have been offered contracts to stay on.

“And obviously we’re honouring all memberships.”

NEW BOSS: Bruce Spangler

Daryl Simmons, one of the original eight members of the Save Our Sixers consortium which six years ago stepped in to purchase the NBL license, said only three members of SOS still remained.

“You could say I am a little melancholy about the sale but it’s in the club’s best interest moving forward,” he said.

Only Simmons, as former chairman of the Sixers, director Paul Finlay and general manager Dean Parker remain from the original SOS group which formed to save the club from extinction.

In the past two years, under coach Joey Wright, the 36ers have re-emerged as an NBL force.

“With the past two seasons producing the best results in a decade, now is the right time to continue moving the club forward to build on that success,” Simmons said.

“There’s virtually no disruption to the existing staff, other than a new general manager.

“It’s basically an ‘under new management’ situation.”

Kestelman, the NBL’s executive director, said he was confident and excited about the Sixers’ direction.

“The new ownership of the Sixers is committed to excellence and focused on the Adelaide 36ers providing a premium entertainment product to existing and new basketball fans in Adelaide,” he said.

The Sixers have Daniel Johnson and Mitch Creek signed for 2015-16 and are close to finalising deals with captain Adam Gibson and power forward Anthony Petrie.

Former Cairns Taipans development guard Nathan Sobey, 24 and 193cm, who posted excellent numbers at Wyoming University, has signed.

The 36ers also are looking closely at 211cm Queenslander Matt Hodgson (below) who played his college ball at St Mary’s and has a huge upside as a shot-blocker in the NBL, if he can stay healthy.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to continue to create history with the 36ers while also celebrating what Daryl, Paul and Dean did for this club,” Wright said.