WORCESTER Wolves have cut ties with “frustrated” forward Jermel Kennedy after he failed to hit the heights of last season.

Kennedy, who was among only three players to return to the club this summer, has agreed to leave just four weeks into the British Basketball League campaign.

The 28-year-old played a key role in Wolves’ impressive end to the 2016/17 season, making 41 appearances and secured a place in Great Britain’s senior men’s squad.

But head coach Paul James said he was unhappy with the level of Kennedy’s performances this term.

The Canadian, who has a British passport, averaged 8.5 points, 4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his first five games, scoring 10 points in Wolves’ 91-78 win over Cheshire Phoenix at the University of Worcester Arena last Friday.

“I don’t think either party was happy with the performance levels given, so it was a mutual decision in the end,” James said.

“Jermel arrived quite late on in our recruitment cycle and we had signed a lot of players before he came back.

“(The decision to let him go) was a combination of the players that we already had and Jermel fitting into where we wanted him to play which didn’t work out how we would have liked.

“If you look across the games that we have played so far and look at Jermel’s contribution compared to other people his performances weren’t where we wanted them to be.

“I think he was a little bit frustrated with that as well.”

James admitted Kennedy’s efforts to earn a deal at a club elsewhere in Europe did not materialise at the end of last season and was unsure whether he would return to England. He has previously plied his trade in Spain, Finland and Uruguay.

James said he was now searching for a player to fill Kennedy’s shoes, but does not expected to find a replacement prior to Wolves’ BBL quarter-final clash at Glasgow Rocks on Sunday (5pm).

“We will try to replace him with someone who is able to come in and play in the position that we want them to play in,” James added.

“We want someone with experience who will contribute to the team and be a leader.

“I don’t think there is any chance of getting someone in before the weekend’s game.

“It will be a couple of weeks at least before we find somebody.”