Mark Dunning is promising a busy summer of rebuilding as he looks to revive Brighton Bears' fortunes.

Dunning, who has had 20 years of experience in coaching, is not one to get into making predictions but is assuring fans things will improve.

Bears finished the season with the wooden spoon in the Southern Conference of the Dairylea Dunkers Championship with a dismal 84-58 defeat against Milton Keynes Lions at Burgess Hill

Dunning declared: "We've got to get going. I've got my ideas on the type of players I want and one hopes that over the ensuing weeks that it happens. There are two facets to the question. They are what I want in terms of player description but that player has to fit our budget and it is a juggling act. The earlier we do it the better because it solidifies your preparation plans."

It is now four years since Bears made the play-offs and Dunning believes his new look team will be the best prepared to face the challenges of next season. He said: "I don't know how many games we'll win, nobody knows. All I know is I'll try to get better players and we'll put them on the floor with a program that will not be lacking in professionalism.

Dunning wants fierce competitors, but points out that it is difficult to know whether a particular player possesses sufficient desire and intensity at the point of them being signed. He explained "You've obviously selected a guy on the quality of his play, but the next thing is the hardest intangible, do you know what's in the guys head?

Dunning, who ended the season with seven wins from 21 games with the team he inherited following the sacking of Charles Luke-Bannerman just before Christmas wants to bring back four members of the present squad.

Offers have been made to Jan Trojanowski and Michael Brown while it is understood James Brame and Daniel Hildreth have also been approached. Dunning was dismayed Bears ended the season on such a wretched note and he admitted: "Its a coin slip with our team. I don't know whats going to happen on any given night."

Bears helped hand Milton Keynes' biggest championship win of the season by turning the ball over a mammoth 32 times, and Dunning blasted: "That was enough for three games. If the players don't want it enough what can you do as a coach?"

Bears last six defeats have all been in excess of 20 points and there was no way back for them after Lions mounted a 21-5 tear either side of the interval to lead 50-31.

Bears: Gaines 14, Trojanowski 11, Sharp 9, Brown 9, Claxton 8, Newman 4, Miles 2, Hildreth 1.

Lions: Bobb 19, Robinson 14, Cox 14, Windless 13, Burks 12, Noel 5, Ingram 4, Russell 3.

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