The count-down clock ticks on!

Monday, 21st March 2005

Phoenix Managing Director Neil Morris is pleased to confirm that Manchester Phoenix are in talks over the creation of a semi-permanent ice structure near to the Trafford Centre, and that the long terms plans are to build a permanent ice facility in Altrincham.

"It's been a long, hard trek to get to where we are now, and the journey still isn't over yet," Morris says, "but we're close enough now to start letting our fans know what we're working towards. The issue of confidentiality is something we at Phoenix take incredibly seriously, which is why we've had to remain painfully quiet all through the past months. It's been an agonising process, with our fans having to go through so much uncertainty about the future whilst our hands have been tied. But now that some of the information has been released to the press by the developers, the cat is out of the bag!"

The information in question comes in the form of a news report published in the Manchester Evening News and on the ManchesterOnline website, in which reporter Chris Brierley speaks with Nick Payne of development company David McLean Nikal. The report contains details of the proposals by David McLean Nikal to built a permanent facility in Altrincham town centre as a part of a regeneration programme for the area, and of the proposals to build a temporary home for the Phoenix to see them through to the opening of the Altrincham rink.

Morris added: "We're gearing up our junior development system, we're intending on Phoenix returning to the ice in the Elite League this coming season, and we're now able to pinpoint where we're likely to be doing that. It's still not a signed and sealed deal yet, and we have further meetings this week with other local councils. As with any business decision, we need to explore and exhaust all options available to us before we make our final choice, as we have one chance to get it right. But the clock is ticking, time is of the essence, and we're getting closer and closer to being able to make that announcement and get Phoenix back to full operational speed again!"

The Chris Brierley article can be viewed by visiting the following link:

ManchesterOnline story.