MANAGING director Mick Donovan believes bottom club Worcester Wolves will “start to take off” when American import Deshawn Freeman arrives “within the next two weeks”.

Wolves slumped to the foot of the British Basketball League table after fellow strugglers Glasgow Rocks condemned them to a sixth straight defeat last weekend.

Tonight (7.30pm) will see Ty Shaw’s side play host to a Sheffield Sharks team that have won their past two games.

But Donovan was remaining “quite calm” about Wolves’ slow start to the campaign and sympathised with head coach Shaw and his players.

He reckoned a depleted forward department had been key to Worcester’s early-season struggles with Filip Krämer and Terrel Martin-Garcia recently overcoming knee and lower leg injuries respectively and new signing Freeman yet to make the move.

“I feel for the players and the coaches because it is an unfortunate situation to be without the backbone of a team,” Donovan said.

“It is a bit like a rugby team playing with a lot of backs and no forwards.

“It is difficult to do that but it’s the reality and the coaches and the players have not complained about it.

“They realise they are in a difficult situation and see light at the end of tunnel.

“If we had had those three forwards in place you have got a starting five and two forwards on the court.

“Sometimes we have had none on the court.

“Robert Crawford is a guard and playing against forwards who are 6ft 10in and 6ft 11in. He is doing a really good job for us.

“I would imagine the players are frustrated but you have got to deal with it and that’s been their approach which has got to be commended.

“Once our import player is over from the States and we get everybody fit I think we will start to take off and will do well this season."

Quadir Welton was set to move to Worcester from America only for the deal to fall through after “complications with the visa process”.

He has since joined German Pro B team Lok Bernau.

Wolves then completed the signing of Freeman on October 11 but the 6ft 7in forward has yet to join the club.

“Deshawn is going to be really exciting in this league,” Donovan said.

“He is desperate to come over and is calling every day.

“We are hoping (he will arrive) any time within the next two weeks.

“Everything has been done so we are just waiting for his visa to arrive at his house.

“We are confident it is going to go to plan and he will be here soon.”

Donovan also praised Wolves’ fans for sticking by Shaw’s men who visit London City Royals in the first round of the BBL Cup tomorrow night (7.30pm).

“The Worcester fans have shown what they are about,” Donovan added.

“Even though the team have been struggling and they are used to heady days they keep turning up in their droves and get behind the team.

“The support has been really good.

“I think ticket sales have gone well for tonight so we are expecting another busy game.”