Yorick Williams has been told he is unlikely get financial aid to play in the Commonwealth Games.
And that could mean a very quick end to his second spell at Genesis Brighton Bears.
Williams has turned down a season-long contract at Birmingham and is back in Sussex while his agent looks to secure a more lucrative deal in Italy or Greece.
A move to the continent would probably mean him having to give up hope of being available for England in Melbourne next year.
But the player, and Bears, have been told they are too late to apply for funding through England Basketball, who are helping clubs meet the cost of keeping international team members in the British League to ensure their availability for the Games.
EB performance manager Radmila Turner admitted her organisation would be unwilling to request further funds from Sport England.
She said: "Sport England will not even look at it now.
"The deadline for applications was in May. There is a limit to the funds and there is a timescale.
"Yorick has already received a lot of support from us.
"We spent £2,000 to help him recover from injury last season without using him for one game.
"Even though he was injured playing for his club rather than us, that was not a problem. We like to look after players and we have looked after Yorick."
Williams is back in the England squad, which meets once a month, and has made no secret of his desire to play in the Games.
But he is unwilling to spend the whole season playing for lower wages in his domestic league.
England coach Peter Scantlebury appears increasingly keen on having Williams in his party to go to Melbourne.
Scantlebury said: "Yorick is one of the guys who is pushing for a place.
"We've got a camp next week and I will speak to him about his situation then.
"He has always been a possible for Melbourne but we didn't get to see him in the summer because he was injured."
Williams is likely to play for Bears at London Towers on Saturday though no further signings are expected by then.
Bears then have 13 days without a game which would appear the likely period for new players to be brought in and possibly for Williams to move on.
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