Spirit survive...for now

The good will of the players and coaches has allowed the Sydney Spirit to play out the 2008-09 NBL season.

The club's players and coaches have agreed to take 'significant' pay cuts and will be paid the 'absolute bare minimum salary' as part of a rescue package from the NBL, the league said in a statement on Wednesdsay.

In return the league has agreed to allow profits from gate receipts from the club's remaining home games to be dedicated towards honouring existing contracts of players and coaches.

"The issues facing the Spirit have been truly unique and therefore called for a unique solution," said Basketball Australia's interim chief executive officer Scott Derwin.

Derwin praised the Spirit players and coaches for their good will.

"Sydney sports fans are now assured the Spirit will play out the current NBL season, with the players and coaching staff courageously agreeing as a group to play on despite it being necessary for them to take significant pay cuts," he said.

"They really are playing for the love of the game and have accepted the absolute bare minimum salary to cover their families' living expenses."

"We are glad that we have managed to find a way for the Spirit to continue in the League, given their outlook just over a week ago was very bleak."

The Spirit's next match is against Cairns on Friday night. Their next home game will be on December 21 against Townsville at the Sydney Olympic Park Entertainment Centre.