Holley joins Manchester exodus

Tony Holley joins the Manchester Giants exodus

Manchester Giants have released forward Tony Holley so he can sign with Israeli club Elizur Ashkelon.

Holley, who has also played for Bury Lobos, Doncaster Panthers and Thames Valley, was a key figure in Giants' title-winning season last year.

The 32-year-old American follows boss Nick Nurse out of the Giants' door, along with last season's Most Valuable Player in the BBL, Tony Dorsey - who now plays for Hapoel Jerusalem.

Manchester general manager Nick Montgomery said: "We have reluctantly agreed to release Tony from his playing contract.

Scouted

"Given the start to the season that the Giants have had and all the injuries we have had, we thought we had finally got a full team together, so this has come as a bit of a bombshell.

"But we certainly didn't want to re-sign Tony under duress."

The All-Star forward, who qualified for a British passport in the summer, was scouted by Elizur Ashkelon during the Giants' recent uni-ball Trophy game against Milton Keynes.

Manchester coach Andre Alleyne added: "Tony got a lucrative deal and he decided that it was the right move for him. I didn't want to keep him if he didn't want to stay."