First there is a decision to be made regarding the wild card for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey and then UK Sport due to make a further announcement about 2012 funding.

Finch said: "Without a doubt the next week is a massive one for British Basketball.

"I'm sure that in years to come we will look back to this week and perhaps view it as a turning point in the programme because there are two decisions which will have huge ramifications for us."

Finch, who currently splits his time between head coach duties of the British men's team and the NBA D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers, is keen to express what a place at the World Championships would mean.

He said: "With regard to the wildcard, as we were in Poland, we are competing against some top nations for those finals few places in Turkey next year and it will be no mean-feat in achieving one.

"If you look at our performances alone then we have demonstrated to FIBA exactly what they have asked of us since we began this journey in 2006; we gained promotion at the first attempt, then qualified for the European Championships at the first time of asking and finally competed well in Poland against three group opponents, two of whom went on to contest the overall final.

"We are still striving for that Olympic place in 2012 but to warrant that we have to play against the best teams in the world and the only way of doing this is to compete at the World Championships.

"With a fully fit roster available to us we would not just be making up numbers in Turkey next year, we would be there to compete.

"The long term goal for the team is to medal at 2012, but the long term goal for the sport is to establish itself in Britain for years to come and I believe the efforts of our two GB teams will be integral in providing a platform for this."

Having spent a number of years playing and coaching in the British Basketball League before taking up the position of British head coach, Finch has been in the perfect position to have observed the growth of the game within Britain and how the UK Sport funding has helped develop the elite programme to its current status.

He said: "UK Sport have so far showed tremendous support and belief in what British Basketball is trying to achieve and in turn I believe we have demonstrated that we deserve this through our rapid rise within the European rankings; both our men and women.

"And if we are to be successful in three years time then we undoubtedly need that continued support from them."


Related stories
November 2009: Sir Steve leads calls for Britain's basketball team to be given World Championships wildcard
September 2009: Britain hoping for wild card invite to 2010 World Championships