ASSISTANT coach Alex Radu will not be applying for the top job at Worcester Wolves after being left in the dark over the sudden departures of Paul James and Dale Ryan.

James ended his eight-and-a-half year reign as Wolves head coach in late June to become Plymouth Raiders boss while it later emerged Ryan had also left his role as director of basketball.

The search is now on at the University of Worcester Arena to find one man who can fill both positions ahead of the 2018-19 British Basketball League campaign.

Radu spent eight years as James’ assistant and is currently a course leader and senior lecturer in basketball coaching at the university.

The 44-year-old, who also works within the Wales and Romania national set-ups, aims to become a head coach in the future.

But having not been kept in the loop over the recent managerial exits Radu has decided against putting his hat into the ring and is now uncertain whether he will remain on the club’s coaching staff next season.

“To be honest initially I was going to apply for it but now I have changed my mind,” Radu said.

“First of all I found out about PJ’s departure from sources outside of the club and then I heard Dale was leaving as well.

“I was then informed about the advert for the role so that’s all I know.

“Initially I wanted to apply as I am interested in becoming a head coach one day.

“But seeing the sequence of events I thought I better stay and focus on my university job, my basketball book which is coming out very soon and stick with the university teams and see what happens.”

Radu joined Wolves in September 2010 and alongside James helped the club clinch the BBL Trophy and BBL play-off title in 2014.

“It was a bit of a surprise to see Paul leave,” Radu continued. “There were some rumours but it was out of the blue.

“I don’t know what the reasons were and why it happened. But it has happened so we need to move on and deal with the situation.”

Radu guided Romania to fourth place in the FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship Division B and travelled to Austria last week for the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship Division B.

But he insisted he had no plans to quit Wolves and was hopeful of playing his part next term.

“I have been in Worcester for eight years and I am still the same guy but when you see things are happening and hear from other places it makes you think ‘Hang on a second, what’s going on? Am I needed?’,” Radu said.

“I am still at the university and would like to be involved with the basketball programme but it all depends on the new head coach coming in.

“Maybe he will say ‘We don’t need Alex’ as he might have his own staff.

“I don’t want to leave the club. I still want to coach and help out as much as I can.

“But if the club doesn’t want me then that is not a problem.”

Managing director Mick Donovan and Spanish coach Dr Alejandro Vaquera are leading the managerless club’s recruitment drive this summer.

Wolves announced the signings of Darell Combs, Miki Servera, Jordan Whelan, Robert Crawford, Filip Krämer and Terrel Martin-Garcia earlier this week.

The Worcester News contacted Donovan for a response to Radu's remarks but he politely declined to comment.