Dave Fielder plans appeal over ice hockey ban

Telford Titans boss Dave Fielder will take his appeal against an 18-month ban to the sport's governing body in the UK after a hearing at the English Ice Hockey Association failed to secure a return to the ice.

Fielder was originally handed a lengthy ban following an off-ice incident at Nottingham in October. Although that has since been reduced to 18 months, with a further year suspended, he must still wait until April 2012 before he can resume coaching duties.

The 34-year-old's suspension also prevents him from coaching players at Telford Venom - and it is those duties with the under-12 side that Fielder wants to carry out again as soon as possible.

He said: "The next step is to take my case to Ice Hockey UK. It isn't about the money and it isn't a full time job coaching the kids.

"They have missed out big time this year and were doing really well before I was banned. They have struggled since and haven't really had anyone on the bench."

Fielder, who was originally banned for a breach of the coach's code of conduct, also believes that Telford Titans' fight against relegation from ENL 1 has been badly affected.

He added: "The Titans have worked hard this year, but with just a couple different decisions and they might not have been in the position they are now.

"They might have been pushing for the play-offs. We had some good results at the start of the season, when we beat teams like Nottingham."

Nobody from the EIHA was available for comment.

By James Shaw