Big news from Basketball Ireland today.  Mark Scannell has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Irish Senior Women’s basketball team today. The Cork man will return to the helm of the national team after a six-year hiatus, having been over the team when Ireland were last active back in 2009. Currently coaching reigning league and cup champions Team Montenotte Hotel, Scannell will now oversee the Irish side’s participation in the European Championship for Small Countries in 2016. Speaking today he said: “It’s a massive honour. “We were in a good place before the programme was stood down and this competition is the right starting point on the road back.” [caption id="attachment_266730" align="alignnone" width="3119"] He's currently head coach with Team Montenotte Hotel [/caption] With a squad that included former WNBA player Susan Moran, Ireland’s last campaign saw them go close to qualifying for Europe’s ‘A’ Division for the first time. The European Championship for Small Countries is open to countries competing in Division ‘C’ of European basketball. “There’s a generation of players who’ve been missing out and it will take a lot of commitment to get everyone up to speed. “That means a player led programme where there’s plenty of opportunities for the younger generation and the more experienced players are needed to bring things along.” World Governing body FIBA are expected to announce dates and participating teams for the European Championship for Small Countries on November 30^th.