EXCLUSIVE: Pace ponders return as boost for career | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

American import Josh Pace is fending off approaches from New Zealand and United Kingdom franchises in a bid to return to Hawke's Bay to take care of some unfinished business.

The versatile guard's agent, Nate McCray, told SportToday via email from Michigan the Manawatu Jets and Everton Tigers had sounded out his player for the coming season.

"I'm ready to do what is needed to take my game to the next level. If it means returning to the Bay Hawks in order to elevate my career, then I'm ready," Pace said through McCray's email after the 0800 Easy LPG Hawks stumbled in the semifinal of the National Basketball League (NBL) in July against the Wellington Saints.

The agent said the New Zealand Breakers, currently plying their trade in the Australian National basketball League (ANBL), had also made advances towards securing the 26-year-old's services.

"Back in January, NZ Breakers brass Richard Clarke and coach Andrej Lemanis approached me about Josh Pace joining their organisation but Pace had already signed the deal with the Bay Hawks.

"Since I knew the Breakers were interested in Josh, I proposed that we revisit the idea of Josh joining the Breakers for the 2010-11 season instead of bolting, leaving the Bay Hawks empty-handed."

McCray felt it would have been ideal for Pace to have moved up to ANBL after playing for the Hawks.

"When the dialogue continued with both sides again in the beginning of August, the feedback I was getting turned to the team needing more time to evaluate his play," he explained but felt the Breakers had four months to evaluate Pace while he was playing for the Hawks in the NBL.

"[He was] right there in their own backyard so let's stop wasting each other's time. It was time to move on.

"Overall, Josh would be more than happy to return to the Bay Hawks this coming season. Who knows, this may turn into an opportunity for him to win another championship," he said of Pace, who won his first title for the Nelson Giants in 2007.

Yesterday, Hawks franchise owner Rod Earnshaw confirmed the Hawks were keen to have Pace back.

"We're holding a starting meeting on Sunday [tomorrow]," Earnshaw said, after the franchise completed the process of submitting its finances to the NBL by the August deadline.

Having met the budget, he said the new coach, to be announced next week, would begin the process of signing up players for the 2011 season. The franchise is also close to securing a naming rights sponsor.