WORCESTER Wolves ladies have sent out a message of intent following their signing of talented guard Shanice Turner, according to head coach Ryan Emery.

The University of Worcester Arena side are currently bottom of English League Division Two North after just one win in five matches this season.

Emery admits it had been a difficult season for the team but he believes the arrival of Turner, who was part of England under-18s squad before heading off to play in the USA, is a step in the right direction.

“She is going to offer exceptional leadership as she will bring on some of our development players and take our offensive spark to a much higher level through playing,” he said.

“I want to try and get the message out there that this is what we are about and this is what we want to achieve.

“We are just as serious as the men’s side and Shanice proves the seriousness of the club.”

Since launching in 2013, Wolves ladies have made steady progress and last season finished in a respectable sixth place in English League Division Two Midlands South West.

Although they have struggled to kick on this campaign, 22-year-old Emery said the club are in a “more stable position” as they aim to one day become as successful as their male counterparts.

“In the past we have had to sacrifice that stability to win games,” he said.

“I think we have consistently been moving in the right direction, it has just taken a bedding-in period, so next year and the end of this year we are going to fly as I have 100 per cent confidence in the players.

“They are all champing at the bit to prove people wrong.

“When I came in, there was a different set of values that people used. We work a lot on player development, which the girls weren’t used to, so it has taken time.

“They did a lot of collaborative work, whereas now it is about taking their own lead.”

Emery, whose side travel north to take on Manchester Mystics II on Saturday, January 30, before facing Team Birmingham away a day later, added: “We have got a hardcore group of fans but need more people to support something which could be really special in the right environment.

“We could be the only WBBL club in the West Midlands and there is that ambition here.

“We just need to take care of the on-court stuff and it will grow.”