MANAGING director Mick Donovan has not given up hope of rock-bottom Worcester Wolves clawing their way into the play-off places despite losing 14 straight British Basketball League matches.

Wolves have not won in the league since beating Plymouth Raiders on the opening day of the season and now face a daunting clash with leaders London Lions at the University of Worcester Arena tonight (7.30pm).

After 15 games Worcester have picked up just two points and are on course to miss out on a spot in the end-of-season play-offs for the first time in eight years.

Assistant coach Dean Blake is taking temporary charge of the team in the absence of boss Ty Shaw who is recovering at home after falling ill during last Friday's 114-76 thrashing at Sheffield Sharks.

Wolves suffered a further blow on Monday when forward Filip Kramer resigned from the club.

But former captain Alex Navajas, who has spent the two previous seasons at Worcester, has rejoined the club for the rest of the campaign.

And Donovan believes there is still time for the 2014 play-off winners to overhaul the 12-point gap separating themselves and a place in the coveted top eight.

“We have been close in several games,” Donovan said.

“Against Sheffield that was one of the biggest loses but we have pushed everybody else.

“We have got to go on a massive winning run to try to claw our way back into the play-offs.

“It’s not impossible so that is what we have got to aim to do.”

Worcester take on a London side that have lost just two of their 13 league games this season.

Lions have also defeated Wolves twice this term, winning 82-65 at the Copper Box Arena in September before claiming a 71-63 victory in Worcester in November.

“We pushed Lions close in both games,” Donovan continued.

“I really do maintain that we have got a really talented group of players. We have just not been able to put our strongest team available on the court.

“We have got to keep going and playing hard.

“While it is still possible we have got to play as hard as we can and finish the season in a really good way.

“If we put in a run of wins we might be in the frame. It is not over yet.”

After the departure of Paul James as head coach and Dale Ryan as director of basketball last summer Donovan teamed up with Spanish coach Alejandro Vaquera to recruit a side ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

“We are at the bottom of the league and that’s what people look at,” Donovan said.

“But we see lots of positives due to the way the team have trained and the way they have approached games.

“I think a lot of teams would have rolled over by now.

“But they are still motivated to get something out of the season which speaks volumes about the types of people they are.”