Fans ‘could’ run ice hockey club

Wednesday 4th November 2009, 10:27AM GMT.

At the meeting last night: Back from left: Mike Dixon, Andy Phillips. Front: James Mathie of Supporters Direct, Mike Davis and Adrian Plimmer of ShrewsTRUST, David Embery of AFC Telford, and Paul Kalinauckas of Co-operatives West Midlands

Telford Tigers could be handed over to fans as it looks set to become the first ice hockey team in the country to be run by a supporters’ trust.

More than 100 people — including past and present players — packed out an open meeting at Telford Ice Rink last night and took the historic vote to move the club forward.

The former Premier League club was left without management in April when former owners David and Rachel Candlin stepped down to pursue other interests, and attempts to find someone else to run the club were unsuccessful.

Supporters voted for the trust to be set up after hearing at the meeting how a successful trust model in operation at AFC Telford could be applied to the Tigers, enabling the supporters to own and manage the organisation themselves.

A working party will now work with Supporters Director, the organisation which provides advice and guidance to more than 150 supporters’ trusts, to get the scheme set up.

If all goes to plan a launch party would be held to elect a board and encourage people to sign up as members before the trust can take charge.

Fans Mike Dixon and Andy Phillips worked through the summer to investigate the possibility, and organised last night’s meeting. Afterwards, Mr Dixon said he was “thrilled and relieved” that there was new hope for the team.

For details visit the website www.telfordtigers.co.uk

View more: Telford Tigers Ice Hockey news.