A Phoenix of true British grit…

This isn't just a hockey club but a big city with a phoenix that everybody keeps burning and it just wants more….

So who? Where? I hear you ask. Well, this is the news that Manchester Phoenix as with most English national premier league teams is again struggling with cash flow problems. The supporters of this club are true fans and have raised over thousands of pounds and still this is short of the funds needed for wages this season. So, they are introducing a voluntary idea for season ticket fans to purchase a ticket for the last home game of each month to increase revenue. This is not compulsive but from a outsiders point of view I find this amazing support and shows how much love there really is from this amazing club and the story of its life….

The story of the beloved Manchester Phoenix is a rocky road of success; from dizzy heights to great new beginnings. Originally, the Manchester club was Manchester Storm a original founding elite league member club which still holds a record European attendance of over 17,000. The club ended in a mess of bankruptcy and with this the death of the storm and the supporters started the new club. Hence rise of the Manchester Phoenix and its great NHL draft player and still coach today Tony ‘the legend' Hand. 

With his great talent and the good finical work of directors, staff, sponsors and backers working so hard the club has won titles in English leagues and held its head high when others would of sank..

And with this year's new elite league Manchester Storm returning, the phoenix just took it and are going all out with plans in the pipeline for a brand new rink. With a temporary ground share in Wales while the club tries to arrange a different location in Manchester to play before construction gets underway, the club again finds itself in trouble. With mounting expenses and lower attendance the streamlining of team can only cover so much of the shortfall. 

In a recent show down discussion with supporters, the club boss cleared up a few issues saying how close the club is to the future in Manchester with business plans signed off for the new stadium and the temporary structure in Manchester for three years while this is built. They went on to say how this is the only way the club can continue with it being in Manchester next season so it can attract the investors to function financially. This has been proved in the past by the ever resilient phoenix. He also cleared up issues on replacing players with the club not having any money and openly cleared the air saying how he had invested 600,000 over the last 11 years and couldn't do this anymore stating that 

"I would like to thank all the Phoenix supporters for everything: the help with money, the hugs, the smiles and the motivation to get up and go again every day. Thank you."

"And for everybody that does not want to help us, but wants to have an opinion on what we should do. You are correct, I am not the best man for this job, nor am I a perfect human being."

"I make mistakes most days of my life. There are better men than me out there to get this job done. They have just not appeared in the queue behind me yet."

In the past few days, the directors have agreed the deal with the UK company ice tech on creating the temporary ice rink and the company behind the Phoenix is to offer shares for purchase writing off loans to the club to get fresh investment.

Manchester Phoenix still needs a massive amount of money to see it through to the end of the season and its supporters and hockey fans all over are out there. So, go help if you can and save the phoenix from them flames…

Tweets by @eurohockey