Nick Nurse today insisted he expects NBA legend Dennis Rodman to play for Genesis Brighton Bears.

And he reckons he can get the five-times champion and Big Brother house-mate for less than the advertised rate.

The Bears head coach remains in negotiations with Rodman's agents, having opened talks early last week.

He wants Rodman to play for his BBL team after leaving the Big Brother house in the coming weeks.

Nurse believes he stands a better chance of signing the former Chicago Bulls enforcer than rivals Sheffield Sharks, who have also claimed an interest.

He made an initial, tentative enquiry to Rodman's agents while in the States last week.

Encouraged by that interest, they in turn made Rodman available to any British League team willing to pay about £25,000 for one 15-minute appearance.

The 44-year-old, who left the NBA almost six years ago, has already done something similar in Finland and scored 17 points in a game for ToPo Helsinki.

Nurse has backing from Bears' sponsors Genesis Forwarding Services and believes an appearance by Rodman would attract massive interest.

He said: "I'm talking to Rodman's people every day.

"We are interested, they are interested but it's hard to firm things up while he is in the Big Brother house.

"It wouldn't be on the terms that were put around."

Asked if he thought Rodman would sign, Nurse said: "I think he probably will. The chances are pretty good."

To be able to use Rodman, Bears would have to temporarily de-register one of their three work-permit overseas players.

A realistic alternative could be to seek non-permit status for Andrew Alleyne, now in his sixth season in this country.

British League chairman Paul Blake says he would back any team willing to hire Rodman and believes interest generated by Bears and Sheffield has already been good for the game.

Even if it smacks of a publicity stunt.

Blake said: "There's an argument that this is not just a sports proposition but the fact is Rodman can can still play.

"He is a representative of one of the greatest teams that ever played the game and it's not often you get the opportunity to sign a player of that level.

"The league's view of this is quite positive."

Bears and Sheffield have already attracted major media exposure by linking their names with Rodman.

But Brighton fans are more interested to know whether their team will benefit from a couple of less glamorous signings to play every week and help them up the league.

The indication is that Bears will stick with what they have.

Nurse, who watched Saturday's defeat by London Towers but has not been cleared to coach after undergoing throat surgery, would only offer a "maybe" when asked if players would be added.

He said: "The guys we have need to put in better individual performances.

"They can play better than they played on Saturday.

"They fight and they try. They show some flashes. Terrance (McGee) and Jerry (Williams) and Drew (Alleyne) are outstanding but the other guys can do more.

"I know they can. They have shown they can."