Brighton Bears have signed a new English playmaker after summer capture Steve Gayle back-tracked on his plans to return to the British League.

Gayle agreed terms with Bears three weeks ago but has now decided to have a second season at lower-division Worthing Thunder.

That leaves Joe Perera, a 23-year-old from Hertfordshire, as back-up point guard to Ryan Huntley for the new season.

Bears have also signed English left-hander Duncan Ogilvie but coach Nick Nurse has laughed off any suggestion that former Orlando Magic big man John Amaechi would be coming to the south coast from his native Manchester.

Some of the new-look Bears line-up were back in training yesterday, including Yorick Williams, Andrew Alleyne and Pat Bates, the 6ft 9ins 22-year-old from Worthing who is starting his first season as a professional.

Perera graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology at the end of last season, having previously been coached as a junior by Cedi Frederick, father of former Bears player Tom.

His first Bears training session was educational to say the least as Nurse made no secret of what was expected at both ends of the court.

The Bears coach said: "Joe is a good young English talent. He has been in Chicago for the last five or six years at high school and university.

"He has ability, athleticism and would hope to get some minutes as back-up position. He needs to get some experience and that will bring him more confidence. Come December or January he will come into his own."

Ogilvie is 6ft 6ins and can play as a guard or small forward. He graduated two years ago from Drury University in Missouri, where he played division two college basketball in the Heartland Conference.

He signed professional terms for Longwy in the French third division but suffered a knee injury in the closing moments of his second game.

A few summer league outings and pre-season at Reading Rockets with former Bears coach Mark Dunning have helped him rebuild his fitness.

Nurse said: "He's a bit on the risky side but, if he stays healthy, he will be very good for us. I've been trying to get him ever since he came back to England two years ago.

"He's a lefty who can shoot from deep and he's deceptively athletic but he has missed the last two years through injury."

Ogilvie, who learnt the game at Ware Rebels, admitted: "I'm grateful to coach Nurse for giving me the chance. I haven't played for a year but I'm eager to prove what I can do."

Nurse takes his team to France on Thursday for a friendly against Le Havre before they host London Towers, Team USA Select and French play-off finalists Gravelines in an international tournament at the Triangle at the weekend.

Although that event promises to be a lively opener to the season, Nurse will use it as a part of the team-building process rather than a chance to see his completed line-up in action.

Indications so far are that this season's team will be relatively inexperienced and mainly English, which could mean more responsibility for Alleyne.

The Barbados international was mainly used as a rebound and put-back merchant close to the hoop last season but has the ability to do more than that and might relish a more all-round role this season.

Nurse said: "I've got a few more things to do with the team. I'll bring in another American or two to bolster the line-up but I'm not in a big rush.

"Yorick looks in great shape and Drew is 50 times better than he was a year ago.

"Pat looks useful. Conditioning-wise he's six out of ten but that will get better."