THE Cairns Taipans have finalised their player review process and coach Aaron Fearne is working on a wish list for next season.

Despite no word from Basketball Australia about the make-up of next year’s league, Fearne, like the rest of the Taipans organisation, is pushing ahead with preparations for next year.

Pictures: Cairns Taipans 2009-10

"As far as I’m concerned, I’m moving ahead putting things in place and implementing programs from a personnel and cultural point," Fearne said.

"I’m not going to sit around and wait, we’ve got to be proactive and just start shaping things for next season."

Fearne said the player meetings had been fruitful for both the playing and coaching staff.

"It’s just a good process to go through because you get a lot of different feedback at the end of the season," he said.

"It’s definitely very positive and we’re proud of some of the things we did this season.

"We felt that we developed a really good platform for the future.

"We just have to go add a few more pieces for next year and keep building the culture here."

With players from other clubs unable to be signed until after the end of the grand final series, clubs currently have their hands tied on roster additions from outside their own club.

And formulating an accurate wish list is also difficult.

"Until the free agents’ list comes out you don’t really know anything," Fearne said.

"You always have a wish list but until you know what’s definitely available (it’s tough to plan)."

Fearne was unsure of the timeline on resigning his own players, with the club needing to know its future in the league before making commitments.

But there will be changes to the Taipans roster.

"We have to make some improvements, there’s no question there," Fearne said.

"We did some things really well.

"We set a great defensive platform for ourselves but we need to be able to score better."

A date for the announcement of the new competition is still unknown but could be finalised as soon as today after the BA board met yesterday.

"Finessing of the language in the licencing agreements" all clubs have to sign is understood to be behind the delay.

Meanwhile, Sydney officials appeared on television last night saying they were confident their bid had met criteria for entry next season.

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