“Keeping a professional team in Plymouth, for everyone in Devon and Cornwall, has been the main focus of everyone involved with the club and it is with great sadness that we are not able to operate in the new season.”

The Patriots were building towards their fourth season, having replaced the Plymouth Raiders in 2021 as the city’s top-level club.

The first season of Super League Basketball, which has replaced the British Basketball League, will now only feature nine teams.

The statement added: “There is always hope that there will be a Plymouth-based team playing in the top league of the sport in the future and we wish the nine teams involved with Super League Basketball the best of luck in the coming season.”