NEW Worcester Wolves head coach Paul James believes he can deliver a play-off spot this season.

The troubled British Basketball League outfit named the former England coach as the man to lead Wolves following the resignation of Chuck Evans.

With less than a month before the University of Worcester-based side return to action after postponing their games until the new year, the ex-Guildford Heat chief has to rebuild Wolves’ squad following the dismissal of five players.

But that has not prevented James from targeting extending the season for his new side with 25 games remaining.

“In the short term I want to get Wolves into the play-offs,” James said. “I’m not here to make up the numbers. I’m looking at finishing eighth, seventh or higher — that is the aim.”

Success is something that James is accustom to having won a string of BBL titles both as a player with Leicester and Bracknell Tigers and as a coach with the Tigers and Guildford.

James also won a number of England caps before coaching them at every level and he landed the BBL coach of the year award in 2007.

But the challenge of rebuilding Worcester and replicating the success he had with his old clubs is something that excites James.

“It’s a bit of a bonus of having success in my previous jobs,” said James, who left the cash-strapped Guildford Heat at the end of last season.

“I have built a team from scratch before at Guildford, but mid-way through the season is something new and it is a challenge that I’m looking forward to.”

James is hoping to add some new faces to Wolves squad this week after beginning his search over the weekend.

Having had their BBL fixtures postponed until January 3, when Worcester travel to Sheffield Sharks, the new coach is facing a race against time.

“I’ve had a few sleepless nights already,” he said. “Every-thing has happened pretty quickly.

“Hopefully, there should be one or two new players this week.

“I’m looking at bringing over a couple of Americans and I need to get those sorted quickly so that we can apply for work permits and visas, while the rest of the squad will be made up of Europeans.”

Wolves chairman Roger Cl-arke is delighted to have captured James and hopes his new coach can realise this season’s aim of the play-offs.

“That is always the target we work to,” Clarke said. “Obviously we will being playing catch up with the rest of the league.

“But Paul is very experienced and a good scout of players and teams.

“At the moment, we are all working incredibly hard to bring in new players and we will hopefully be able to announce some names by the end of the week.”