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Jacobsen leaves Phoenix for return to Texas

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Manchester Phoenix are disappointed to announce the sudden departure of forward Grant Jacobsen.

Jacobsen advised club officials on Saturday that he had been approached by his former club – the Texas Brahmas – about a return to the Central Hockey League and that he was considering it.

Monday afternoon saw the Canadian advise head coach Tony Hand that he had decided to accept the offer from Texas and that he will be leaving Manchester as early as Tuesday morning.

Hand commented, “I am very, very disappointed at this turn of events. The speed at which things have moved is bewildering and leaves us needing to find a replacement at very short notice or go into next weekends games lighter than we’d choose to be. The squad has been an excellent start and Grant had been very much an integral part of it. Having spent a lot of time researching and recruiting the team, we now have to back to the well to see who may now be available.”

Jacobsen remarked, "I was really enjoying it here however, the offer from Texas came and I had to move quickly or lose the chance. Manchester have done nothing wrong, it's a chance for me to make some extra money and I had to give them a quick answer."

A club spokesperson added, "whilst we understand the financial needs of individuals, we as a club are the big loser here. We make a huge effort to accommodate players from abroad and at no little expense to the club - work permits, visas, ITC cards etc all have costs attributed to them. The biggest disappointment though is the lack of respect for the contractual notice period. If a club decides to make a change, we are honour-bound and contractually obliged to give a two-week notice period - the speed with which the Texas club and Grant have progressed things makes an absolute mockery of the paperwork we spend so much time and effort on."

Phoenix are at home next Saturday evening in a 6.30pm face-off against the Belfast Giants in the Challenge Cup, before travelling to Whitley Bay on Sunday for a 4.30pm face-off against the Newcastle Vipers, also in the Cup competition.