Veteran Cauthorn made his name in the British Basketball League as a Sharks player. The Sheffield club want to lure him out of retirement as non-playing , back up to player-boss Lyons.

Sharks managing director Sarah Backovic explained: "Atiba wanted to continue playing. We're currently negotiating with a couple of candidates as assistant. Our ideal choice would be Todd Cauthorn. Obviously Mike Talbot was the assistant last year, he did a great job last year and he'd continue.

"Todd hasn't signed on the dotted line yet but that's who we're keen to get."

Lyons succeeds Peter Scantlebury as coach on a one year contract.

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Said Backovic: "It was a two way decision between Pete and ourselves for Pete to leave. In the last five years Peter has been head coach, he's worked very hard and done a good job. Over the last year or so it was increasingly difficult for Pete, with limited budgets that were in context with the rest of the league. We had a tough season and I think Pete needed a new challenge and we felt that after five years it was time for a change, a new direction.

"Originally we had planned to make Atiba, the assistant coach under Pete. It would have been very similar to what we did with Pete under Chris Finch, the previous coach. It was part of the succession planning really. We've always promoted from within at the Sharks."

Lyons, who is still only 26, is talent spotting in America. He will be back in Sheffield in August.

"There will be some continuity in the team. Two key players have already agreed to sign again," Backovic said.

"Atiba's plan is to look at the inside guys, we've always struggled with our big men, our inside players.

"He is out in the States now to go to the relevant camps and look at the talent out there.

"We have an expectation that we will do better than we have in the last season and that's all we're demanding of him, I guess."

Sharks finished a disappointing sixth in the last BBL campaign.