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Phoenix re-build fuels pre-season fervour

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Manchester Phoenix officials have reported an outstanding response from the fans to the plans to compete in the English Premier League for season 2009-10.

Following last weeks packed house meeting at the Brittania Hotel in city-centre Manchester, the club has received an overwhelmingly positive response to the move, the early team recruiting announcements and the new ticket pricing structures.

General Manager Andy Costigan noted, "There was a degree of trepidation ahead of the meeting last Thursday, but we were and have been enormously boosted by the response from the supporters. The overwhelming majority support the move to the EPL as the best way for the club to proceed and that support is a tremendous boost for everyone involved after weeks of evaluating the options we had before us."

"And the response to the players signings already announced is a further pleasing aspect for us. In choosing to apply to the EPL, we knew that many fan favourites from last season would be ineligible for a return to the Phoenix, but Tony has done a tremendous job in signing what promises to be an exciting squad already. We confirmed seven players plus Tony himself continuing to play and we've got four more names ready to release this week and next as he puts the finishing touches to the British trained players on the new roster."

"In terms of the non-British trained players we're allowed under the EPL rules, we're looking to bring in four experienced and skilled players to compliment the keen, hungry young British guys. We're keen to add a mix of youthful exuberance to a highly skilled and proven group of senior professionals. We're with Tony in his opinion already that we'll have a terrific squad of British guys eager to succeed and develop within our organisation and together with the players joining us from further a field we'll aim to be both entertaining and competitive when the puck drops in September."

Phoenix officials will confirm more detail of the 2009-10 ticketing initiatives this week and are keen to remind supporters to keep a regular eye here on the club's official website for updates as they are published.

Costigan added, "As well as the details we advised last week, we're planning a number of ticket promotions for the coming season and we're hopeful that the sporting public across Greater Manchester and beyond will like what they see and come along and experience the night at the Phoenix next season."