Nick Nurse is ready to spread the word about Brighton Bears as they kick-off their home campaign this weekend.

Bears open with a Sunday afternoon visit from old foes Thames Valley Tigers to The Triangle (5pm).

The club have been forced to take half their home games away from the Brighton Centre to the Burgess Hill venue.

But Nurse, who was yesterday confirmed as a director of the BBL club, insisted: "We can use that to our advantage.

"I will be disappointed if the Brighton Centre is not close to capacity for our ten games there.

"But The Triangle is also a nice place to play. For now it's good we have games there to spread the word but I have dreams and visions for the future.

"I want to to get out in the community and take basketball forward in this area"

Nurse's desire to invest in the club was the worst kept secret in British basketball this summer.

It was that opportunity which persuaded him to turn down a coaching role at Real Madrid and join last season's southern conference wooden spoonists.

Nurse, whose men go to champions Leicester tonight (7.30pm), said: "People are surprised I came here but that changes when I tell them the whole story.

"I want to get this thing up and running. Romek has done a nice job of making the transition from Worthing to Brighton and there is now a blank piece of paper here."