Some element of revenge was gained at the end of the season however, when Worthing defeated Manchester Magic at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena to claim their first ever play-off Championship title with a 102–94 victory.
On 6 February 2008, it was officially announced that the club would be exchanging hands to a new-look board of directors in a bid to step up to the elite British Basketball League, for the 2008–2009 season.
[1] This came just months after the club declined an invitation to compete in the BBL for the 2007–2008 season, a decision which angered some fans and prompted a rival bid for the area franchise from the Brighton Cougars, which eventually failed.
Though Coach Gary Smith retained the bulk of Thunder's Division One roster, players such as Dan Wardrope (Guildford Heat) and Lijah Perkins (London Capital) were brought in to give the team much needed top-flight experience.
Their season was a mixed one overall, and even though they managed to compete with the big-boys – including a 109–99 victory at home to Scottish Rocks and an 85–88 away win at Sheffield Sharks – Worthing finished one-place above bottom London with a 10–23 record.