Neil Bradley put basketball on hold to concentrate on his career as a loss adjuster.

But it will be all about wins again this weekend when he steps into the breach as an emergency coach for Manchester Magic.

The team's veteran play-caller Jeff Jones will, for once, not be barking his orders from the sidelines when Magic travel to Leeds in the National Trophy on Saturday then host Sefton in the Cup the following day.

He will be recuperating after the hip surgery he underwent this week, meaning his old pal Bradley is thrust into the spotlight after two seasons away from the game.

Jones, who faces more surgery later in the season on his other hip, couldn't put off treatment any longer after struggling with his painful condition for a number of years.

But he has no qualms about temporarily handing over his team to a man who has been part of Manchester basketball for generations.

“Neil is going to step in while I recuperate,” said Jones after Magic beat Durham for their first win of the season on Saturday.

“We needed someone while I am out and he has kindly stepped up and will do a great job.”

Bradley is no stranger to Magic – he was a big part of the early years of the club, running the men’s second string development team and coached with Manchester Giants and Manchester United.

And he is delighted to be involved again.

“Jeff asked a few weeks ago if I would do it for a stint this season and I said yes because I'd do anything to help him out.

“But then he rang me last week and said 'they've brought forward my operation', we need you for the weekend, so here I am.

“I know a lot of people from my time at the club, although it was a bit strange walking back into the Centre having been away for 18 months.

“There are a lot of kids in the team now that came through the second team programme from when I was there, such as Liam Johnson, Josh Houghton and Tom Sutton.

“They are all familiar faces and it is nice to see the work done in the past has paid off.”

Bradley has targeted a win in Leeds after an understrength Magic went down to the Yorkshiremen in the opening game of the season a few weeks ago – and wants his involvement until Jones returns be a seamless transition.

“I know where the players are at now and what they are capable of and where they are capable of going,” he said.
“I will just keep on developing them and doing the work that Jeff has been doing with them.

“I saw the win last weekend and the team is heading in the right direction. I have a had a good talk with Jeff about things and the aim is for when Jeff comes back, for it to be as though he has not been away.”

How long that is depends on Jones' recovery.

“I have said 'take your time – there's no rush'.

“I am privileged and honoured that Jeff asked me to do the job. I coached with him at United and Giants and we have known each other a long time.

“I had to take a break because of work commitments  but it is nice to be back.”

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