BOLTON Arena could tempt National League basketball back to the town.

Earlier this year Manchester Giants held preliminary talks with the Arena management before deciding to remain at their home base the - MEN Arena - but general manager Nick Montgomery admitted the Bolton venue would be ideal for basketball.

"I have seen the plans for the Arena and they are very impressive and basketball could have a future there," he said.

"Bolton is a strong area for basketball but at the moment we have no plans to go there. A move is not on the drawing board or being considered."

The Giants, who have made a shaky start their season and despite being hit by injuries still hope to make the play-offs next spring, have come under pressure because of the popularity of the home venue.

"We are the poor relations to pop concerts," admitted Montgomery. "We don't have consistency of the nights we play which is not helpful. The Arena is sympathetic but if a big concert comes along it takes priority. That is a nightmare when we are trying to grow the sport."

With crowds averaging little more than 1,000 the Giants' franchise owners 'Basketball' - a basketball hardware and equipment manufacturer based in Rotherham - may be tempted to switch to Bolton for next season - a town that had a national team in the 1980's.

Peter Bradshaw, principal officer at Bolton Metro Leisure Services, admitted that discussions had been held with the Giants but they had decided to stay in Manchester.

He said: "The basketball governing body have also made an approach to see how the Bolton Arena will lend itself to the sport. If a realistic case is put forward it would be worth an investigation but we are not at that stage.

"It must also be pointed out that the Arena is funded by the Lawn Tennis Association and any sport must be sympathetic to that fact."