Interview with Neil Morris

Monday, 20th June 2005

Ahead of this Thursday’s live web-chat, Phoenix Managing Director Neil Morris gets a warm-up grilling from Richard Allan, who puts forward some of the questions that have arisen following the mothballing of the Phoenix team for a second season.

Richard Allan:
The decision to mothball the team for another season can't have been an easy one to make. You've published your reasons for making that decision, but how do you feel about it personally?

Neil Morris:
To be honest it is hard to explain the stress and mental fatigue bringing a project like this one to fruition exerts upon you. The last five years have been really hard for everybody involved in ice sports in Manchester, I am not actually alone. From a personal point of view I felt I had failed to honour my promises to the fans that have stayed with me on this journey, but I have tried my very best for them and myself... this time it was just a bridge to far.

RA:
The response from the fans of Manchester has been mostly optimistic. Has this surprised you at all?

NM:
Yes and no. We have some really great people supporting this club. At board level we have a reputation for having smart people that think on our own forums, not just rumour riders. Our fans are battled hardened, the ones that have stayed with us through all of this journey are real ice hockey fans, and I hope that they are as proud of what this club has achieved as I am of them.

RA:
Every summer during the off-season, there are always plenty of rumours doing the rounds about who will be playing with which team. When Phoenix announced the mothballing, were there any players lined up to play who had to be released? Care to name any names?

NM:
Andy Costigan has worked hard for this club over the previous years, and we are lucky to have somebody who has the experience and contacts to put the basic format of a team together ready for your coach to make selections and bring in the main backbone of what he needs to get the job done. I don't think it would be fair to the players and agents to disclose names at this point. In fairness to Andy it became impossible, we could not commit to a coach and subsequently Andy must have filled our roster four times as the players got snapped up.

RA:
Is there any truth in the rumour that prior to your decision to mothball the team, you were approached by someone who offered to buy the team from you?

NM:
This subject came up with the press on Friday night, and so far has been limited to the Elite League Board, however I think in fairness to our fans I should make this matter clear. The Press were told that a new owner with new money had made an offer for the club, and that I had refused point blank. There has actually been two offers from the same source, not for the club but for my shares as an Elite League Director and my Geographical Rights. As there was nowhere to play in Manchester it is our belief that they would have gone back to the board and asked for the rights to be transferred to another part of the country. That surely would have been the end of professional hockey in Manchester, as there is a queue to get into our League.

RA:
How likely is it that we'll see a new rink in Manchester before Christmas? And now that Phoenix have been kept in mothballs, does this free you up more to concentrate on the new rink development?

NM:
I would have thought a new rink by Christmas is extremely possible, Trafford Borough Council have been extremely positive in trying to help bring this project to fruition. I have met with their leader Councillor Susan Fildes and I believe that she will help get the job done, this lady has vision as well as good business acumen. It was Councillor Fildes and Nikal that have suggested the new site, and although that will mean starting again with the planning I believe the benefits will far out way the negatives.

RA:
Now that the pressure to build the rink before the start of the season is off, does this mean that the urgency is gone, and that the rink could end up taking longer to build now?

NM:
I don't believe the urgency has gone, although the professional team are unable to ice this season. There are still many parents of junior hockey players, ice dancers and general members of the community making round trips of over 100 miles at least twice a week just to gain access to an ice pad. Will the rink take longer, probably yes, as now we will have time to get it right. Plans are already a foot to add to the temporary venue, a bar, a cafeteria, a shop, we are already starting to make plans for our existing season ticket holders.

RA:
Will Manchester Phoenix still have a place in the league waiting for them when they return to active competition?

NM:
Yes, the Elite league Board passed a resolution to allow Manchester to return for the 2006/2007 Season.

RA:
And finally, what does your long-suffering partner Karen make of all this?

NM:
Good question. I was going to let her answer herself but the page is not big enough! She seems to feel that being with me is an emotional rollercoaster ride, but don't worry as she will tell you its not just hockey, I think it’s just the way I live my life.

I would like as many fans to join me on Thursday for the live session on our web site, if you can not make it during the day then just send in your questions and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible. And remember... Keep The Faith!

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Interview with Neil Morris

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