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Well, it looks as if British Ice Hockey has finally begun its descent into the proverbial ****...
Bracknell Bees the BNL League champions announced today that owner and chairman John Nike will step down now from running a Bracknell Ice Hockey (and Basketball) Club.
Following much soul searching my Chairman John Nike OBE has come to the conclusion that now is the time to pass the operating of the professional sports of ice hockey and basketball to someone else. On Friday 6th May 2005, the professional office operating the Thames Valley Tigers and the Bracknell Bees will close and top flight basketball and ice hockey will not be operated in Bracknell by the Nike Group of Companies.
John Nike has supported these sports for many years, steering the teams to significant success, putting Bracknell firmly on the map and making a huge impact within the local community.
The heavy decision is made in light of continued escalating costs, both leagues being in complete turmoil, and the pressures of the Inland Revenue who continue to pressurise John Nike for having supported these two professional sports in the past.
As my Chairman is coming to the age of 70 years, he has decided to focus on his many business interests and the Bees and the Tigers are available for someone else to fund and manage.
Ice hockey and basketball have been key components in providing many fans with joy, many youngsters with positive role models and healthy activities. This decision is not an easy decision and John Nike would like to thank all those that have been involved with the sport, the fans, helpers, sponsors, players and coaches.
I would also like to personally thank my dedicated team members for their years of unselfish and tireless commitment in managing these two sports. Also thanks go to my Chairman John Nike, who has made professional ice hockey and basketball a turn key to putting Bracknell firmly on the map. Thanks also to everyone who has been involved in supporting these two teams.
Hull Stingrays are also in the **** because Edinburgh and Newcastle have joined the EIHL which leaves just Hull, Guildford, Fife and Dundee in the BNL...
These teams all admit that a BNL with just 5 teams is not feasible and 4 certainly is not...
Guildford should be able to work something out and maybe join the EPL...Fife and Dundee may join the SNL or EPL if they are lucky but they are miles from any other EPL team...
Hull do not have as good financial backing as Guildford and will struggle according to a thisishull.co.uk article...
Excel Hull Stingrays owner Mike Pack fears Edinburgh's defection to the Elite League could have hammered the final nail into the British National League's coffin.
The Capitals' departure leaves just five teams in the BNL.
There are suggestions one of the remaining quintet will drop a bombshell on fans this week. (Bees news)
It leaves Stingrays owners with five alternatives - move up, stay in the BNL, drop down to the English Premier League, join a new northern league if it gets off the ground, or close the club altogether.
Pack says he and co-owner wife Sue are depressed by the situation Stingrays find themselves in: "We are at our lowest point we have been in during the wrangles over the league structure.
"It's pretty galling as the situation is not of our making."
Pack holds out little hope that either the British governing body, Ice Hockey UK, or the world's governors, the International Ice Hockey Federation, will intervene.
He said: "When IHUK tried to be strong a couple of years ago it had its teeth drawn by the IIHF.
"That will come back to haunt everyone involved in the sport.
"Considering we are ranked 26th in the world, I doubt if we're important enough for the IIHF to bother again."
Pack once again ruled out an individual application to the Elite League, feels the chances of the BNL surviving are growing remote, leaving the EPL the most likely option.
He said: "There's no way we can move up, and I don't believe the door is open anyway.
"Of course, if we got a subsidy as large as some of the clubs already up there, we'd probably win the league!
"If we can attract enough clubs to the BNL model it might survive, but that's looking a pretty slim chance.
"Over the past few years the likely candidates have not taken up the opportunity, so I don't think they'll be any more attracted now.
"The strongest likelihood is we will have to move into a reduced import league.
"The situation we're in is dire, and largely depends on the decisions made by other clubs."
It seems by no means certain the currently disillusioned duo will continue in Hull.
Pack said he hopes the picture will be clearer shortly: "Give us another two weeks and we'll be clearer what our options are.
"I just feel they are diminishing as the days go by."
As a Guildford fan all i can hope is that Flames (and the other BNL teams) are able to get things sorted and join the EPL...but it doesn't look too good!