After his long association with a Riders side that has constantly been among the title contenders at the top of the British game, Levenston’s involvement with a Nottingham club that has never competed at that level has come as a major boost for the ambitious outfit.

The Hoods were founded in 2009, and have played in the top division of National Basketball League – Britain’s second-tier competition behind Super League Basketball, which was previously known as the British Basketball League – since the 2017-18 season.

They have established themselves as a professional outfit that plays and trains at the Nottingham Wildcats Arena – the venue owned by the club that plays in the Women’s Super League Basketball.

They have got off to a difficult start to the season and sit second from bottom in their league, while East Midlands rivals Derby Trailblazers – a club looking to reclaim its elite status – are second in the table after 10 games.

There, however, is no promotion and relegation between the NBL and SBL, with the top-flight based on a franchise system.

Levenston says “patience” will be key for the Hoods, but insists the club remains Nottingham “best kept secret”.

“It took me a lot longer to lay the foundations at Leicester, and a lot of that experience and those lessons learned has helped put us ahead of where would have been,” Levenston said.

“I have a five-year plan that will bring top-flight basketball to Nottingham that will hopefully have us competing at the highest level.

“I have the ambitions of taking the team into Europe in the future, and that is more like the 10-year plan.”