Basketball: Lloyd demands crisis meeting; PANTHERS: Coach wants new players in after eight straight defeats.

Byline: By Colin Tattum

COACH Nigel Lloyd will seek a meeting with Birmingham Panthers' management over the Christmas period to try to arrest the decline in fortunes.

Lloyd wants to know exactly what scope there is to recruit new players.

Panthers, who are bottom of the BBL and have lost their last eight matches, face another thankless task at Newcastle Eagles tonight (7.30pm).

Fabulous Flournoy's play-off Champions - second in the table and with the fewest competition losses - are sure to have too much for Panthers, who then have a break until returning to action at home to Sheffield Sharks on January 5.

"We really can't carry on like this," said Lloyd, who is two Americans short and lacking big men.

"It's past an emergency, and once we get through this game I want to sit down with management to talk about adding players to the roster.

"If it's a financial constraints, which it seems to be, then okay.

"At least then let's get some English guys in because we need bodies. Our team is down to just three guys who have played a quantity of minutes in the BBL.

"With the exception of Rob Paternostro, who is a veteran, even then all the rest haven't been significant players in the league.

"So it's a ridiculous situation to put them in and all I can say is that despite our problems, they are continuing to give their all."

Injuries have also afflicted Lloyd's options.

Cameron Wright's knee continues to give him grief and Daniel Sandell suffered a hip problem at Guildford Heat last Sunday.

"We sat him down in the second-half - the game was going away from us anyway - and hopefully he will be okay."

Paternostro's calf and ankle are also a concern.

Lloyd lamented: "You know the sad thing about all this is that I'm still getting calls every day from players on different teams who would love to come to us, who want to help.

"I just hope that when we return after the break to play the Sharks, we are not in the same situation as it wouldn't make sense."

CAPTION(S):

WOUNDED PANTHER... coach Nigel Lloyd.