Statement from Carl Heslop on the 21st November 2023
To the Patriots Community,
Further to discussions with the British Basketball league I have regrettably resigned as Chairman of the Plymouth City Patriots and my last day in post will be the 15th of December 2023
Further to my workload increasing massively over the past 12 months I advised the league prior to this season that I was unable to manage both the club and my businesses. This workload has only since increased and therefore have no alternative but to step away at this time.
Keeping premier league sport and professional basketball in Plymouth has always been the goal and it is why, I agreed to work with the league owned Patriots in 2021 on a voluntary basis to try and achieve this aim.
Unfortunately, despite myself investing a lot of time, money, and resources, I was not able to get the support required to deliver the venue the club needs.
I am immensely proud of what we were able to achieve in a short space of time, record ticket sales last season followed by record season ticket sales this year. The amount of people now playing competitive basketball at youth level has increased massively along with a full pathway in the city for BOTH boys and girls. These achievements will continue beyond me and look forward to seeing them flourish in the future.
Nothing will match some of the magical nights we have had at the pavilions with the patriots from the double overtime against Bristol, buzzer beater against Manchester and who could forget the recent game against London!
I will still be at all the games supporting the team and happy to make myself available to chat to anyone at any time between now and the end of the season as I have done throughout the course of my time at the club.
I would finally like to personally thank my family, the players, staff, sponsors, volunteers, cheerleaders, and fans for all their support. It has been much appreciated and I have made lifelong friends through basketball which will extend I'm sure beyond my chairmanship.
let's now all get behind the team and give them as much support as we can for the rest of the season
Yours Sincerely
Carl Heslop