Basketball On The Internet.

IN the spirit of the Anzacs and the motto of never leaving anyone behind, Basketball Australia needs to throw its weight behind the "Save the Crocs'' program in Townsville.

The existing Crocodiles - still operating with the support of former owner Barrier Reef Basketball Pty Ltd - are changing their ownership model to a community-membership style.

This is despite BA chief executive Kristina Keneally banishing BRB chairman George Colbran from an owners meeting in Sydney, while in the next breath not accepting the return of the Crocodiles licence.

Had BRB continued and forced to trade insolvent, administration would have been the next step and the definite end of the Crocs as we know them.

Townsville Crocs general manager Pat Reidy, who is part of the admin team heading up the "Save the Crocs'' project, said as a result of BRB not trading insolvent, there was no debt to service.

BRB also was supportive of saving Townsville's NBL club.

"By them not locking up any of their assets, we're able to continue to operate,'' Reidy said.

"We're able to make deals and talk to BRB - it's been very helpful for them not to go into insolvency.

"They've been very helpful.

"They love the club and they want the history, they want the name and they want the legacy to carry on.''

A "white knight" - actually, I prefer "mystery benefactor," white knights always make me think of those choc-coated mint chewy bars of my youth - also has donated $1.4 million. (Andrew Camp, thank you on behalf of all basketball lovers.)

"The patron money we've been offered, we want to keep that aside for security in the long term,'' Reidy said.

"We want to keep it to one side, and the same with the pledge money."

Reidy said there had been good turnouts for public appearances by the players and "teams of people pledging their financial support.''

"But we need to refocus and keep this momentum going,'' he said, the club not out of the woods yet.

BA?

Anyone home?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Instead of letting clubs go to the wall, especially those which bit the bullet in the tough times and went to war to save a league under siege in 2009, BA needs to publicly get on the front foot.

Instead of waiting for updates and news, representatives should be rallying the troops in Townsville and making the news.

After all, community or membership-based ownership models may be the way the NBL eventually must go.

"As money tightens up and big spending owners shy away, we will see more clubs head down this road,'' Reidy said of the membership-model.

For further info, go to: http://www.crocodiles.com.au/article/id/zh24kfbmwygt1a1tyi5vw8pli