Word in the basketball community is Mark Dickel shapes as the favourite to coach the Rams next year.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the financial position of Basketball Otago, the move would seem to make sense for the former Tall Black.
Attempts to contact Dickel and the Rams' management proved unsuccessful yesterday.
However, Basketball Otago chairman Ricky Carr said, while he had read a newspaper article linking Dickel with a move north and heard the rumours, he had no firm reason to believe Dickel was poised to move on.
''I have not had any communication with Mark directly around any changes to his contract at this stage but I have heard the rumours,'' Carr said.
Dickel is employed by Basketball Otago as the director of development.
He has played for the Nuggets for the past three seasons and took over the coaching reins this year.
However, Basketball Otago is expected to report a significant deficit and faces mounting debts.
While the association says it will continue trading, budget restraints could end up dictating whether Dickel remains in Otago or heads north.
''It is one of those things. We can't stop people going and doing the things they choose to do if that is what the case is.
"But, as I've said, nothing has been communicated to me.''
