LEOPARDS basketball team have announced that head coach Jon Burnell will step down from the job at the end of the season.
Burnell will coach the Big Cats for their remaining league game, at Sheffield on Easter Saturday, and the home Essex Cup game against Essex Pirates on Sunday April 11 before leaving the job after six seasons.
“We’d like to thank Jon for everything he’s done for Leopards” said chairman Fred Dicker. “However, it’s become clear that we need to take Leopards in a new direction, and due to Jon having a full-time job, it’s not possible for him to continue as coach.”
Burnell (pictured) had coached the Ware Rebels club that was taken over by Leopards in the summer of 2004 during their final season, and has led the Big Cats throughout their six year existence.
He led them to the National Cup title in 2005/6, and three semi-finals in 2009 as well as third spot in the EBL Division One.
However, this season has seen the Big Cats struggle, and although they are now comfortably clear of the relegation zone, the club’s board of directors have decided major changes have to be made.