Bobby McEwan will takeover the Hull Stingrays on his own after it was this afternoon revealed local businessman Nic Gough will no longer be a part of any takeover bid for the Elite League club.
Gough had joined up with Stingrays assistant coach McEwan to mount a takeover bid from the Coventry Blaze ownership group earlier in the spring.
Though progress was incredibly slow moving due to complications over the initial application, ice-time and then negotiation process with the previous owners - Gough and McEwan looked to be closing in on a takeover towards the latter part of last week and early part of this week.
BBC Radio Humberside confirmed on Monday that Hull City Council (HCC) had called a press conference for Thursday morning at the Hull Arena to announce the results of the ice-time tender at which they will confirm ice-time for the Stingrays 12/13 EIHL campaign
It has now become clear that while the ice-time tender process was closing in on completion, negotiations between the Gough and McEwan and Coventry remained messy and fractured with no accounts shown for their time in Hull, a mooted asking price of between £15,000 and £35,000, and confidentiality issues on the part of the Blaze.
Monday also saw an Elite League board meeting at which the league's ten ownership groups - crucially including McEwan and not Gough - met to agree on a new two conference restructure for the 12/13 campaign.
The restructure saw the Stingrays aligned into a coincidentally financially weaker Northern conference alongside Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers and Edinburgh Capitals. Crucially as far as the Stingrays are concerned, the changes saw the loss of four home fixtures against Sheffield and Nottingham - who both bring big numbers of visiting fans to Hull Arena - while also increasing the number of times they travel to Scotland to 16 - up from 12.
While it has been alleged that all EIHL clubs agreed to the deal, it is believed that it was McEwan and not Gough - who was not in attendance - that agreed, in principle, with the changes.
Gough was understandably very unhappy with the new structure, however, didn't withdraw his support late on Tuesday night following the announcement ahead of a meeting with McEwan and Cloutier this morning.
Gough, McEwan and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier met at the Hull Arena - prior to a meeting with HCC- at which point McEwan surprisingly revealed that he believed he could take the club on his own.
Though the decision may indirectly be linked to Gough's understandable anger at the Elite League's decision, it is believe McEwan will continue on with plans for the Stingrays 12/13 EIHL campaign with Cloutier likely returning as player-coach.
Gough spoke of his natural disappointment at the decision to F Block Blog:
While the club may not be in the crisis it was in two years ago following the Pack's departure and it does still have a willing suitor interested in taking over, the situation remains on a knife edge. Inparticular the 12/13 EIHL campaign will likely be incredibly difficult financially though this appears to be a situation McEwan believes manageable.
The Stingrays fans forum tomorrow night (8pm start) at the Hull Arena should reveal more information on the future of the Stingrays as a club with McEwan, Cloutier and a surprise guest or two - thought to be the club's first signings of the summer - all in attendance. Gough has also confirmed he will be in attendance to answer any questions on recent events.
Gough had joined up with Stingrays assistant coach McEwan to mount a takeover bid from the Coventry Blaze ownership group earlier in the spring.
Though progress was incredibly slow moving due to complications over the initial application, ice-time and then negotiation process with the previous owners - Gough and McEwan looked to be closing in on a takeover towards the latter part of last week and early part of this week.
BBC Radio Humberside confirmed on Monday that Hull City Council (HCC) had called a press conference for Thursday morning at the Hull Arena to announce the results of the ice-time tender at which they will confirm ice-time for the Stingrays 12/13 EIHL campaign
It has now become clear that while the ice-time tender process was closing in on completion, negotiations between the Gough and McEwan and Coventry remained messy and fractured with no accounts shown for their time in Hull, a mooted asking price of between £15,000 and £35,000, and confidentiality issues on the part of the Blaze.
Monday also saw an Elite League board meeting at which the league's ten ownership groups - crucially including McEwan and not Gough - met to agree on a new two conference restructure for the 12/13 campaign.
The restructure saw the Stingrays aligned into a coincidentally financially weaker Northern conference alongside Braehead Clan, Dundee Stars, Fife Flyers and Edinburgh Capitals. Crucially as far as the Stingrays are concerned, the changes saw the loss of four home fixtures against Sheffield and Nottingham - who both bring big numbers of visiting fans to Hull Arena - while also increasing the number of times they travel to Scotland to 16 - up from 12.
While it has been alleged that all EIHL clubs agreed to the deal, it is believed that it was McEwan and not Gough - who was not in attendance - that agreed, in principle, with the changes.
Gough was understandably very unhappy with the new structure, however, didn't withdraw his support late on Tuesday night following the announcement ahead of a meeting with McEwan and Cloutier this morning.
Gough, McEwan and player-coach Sylvain Cloutier met at the Hull Arena - prior to a meeting with HCC- at which point McEwan surprisingly revealed that he believed he could take the club on his own.
Though the decision may indirectly be linked to Gough's understandable anger at the Elite League's decision, it is believe McEwan will continue on with plans for the Stingrays 12/13 EIHL campaign with Cloutier likely returning as player-coach.
Gough spoke of his natural disappointment at the decision to F Block Blog:
"I'm as gutted as the next person but you've got to be realistic. It was looking more and more challenging to achieve what we set out to be achieved initially and we were already close to the wire. This [EIHL restructuring] could have a massive ramifications on the club and the gate. We already had a mountain to climb but the EIHL have ensured that we had a mountain to climb in flip flops and shorts. My heart said yes but my head said no"He later added on Facebook:
"How can a league that purports to be professional and fair implement changes that disadvantage one of its members whilst benefitting the remaining nine - it stinks"Nevertheless, Gough will remain a dedicated Stingrays fan and has also offered to help out in anyway he can.
"I'm gutted I'm not involved. I'm disappointed it's come to this but I'm behind him [McEwan] 100%. I wish him every success."As it stands now, and despite a premature press release from the Blaze ownership group confirming a pre-agreement with the takeover group - which attributed quotes to Gough that were, according to him, fabricated - McEwan still needs to complete the deal to takeover with the Blaze.
While the club may not be in the crisis it was in two years ago following the Pack's departure and it does still have a willing suitor interested in taking over, the situation remains on a knife edge. Inparticular the 12/13 EIHL campaign will likely be incredibly difficult financially though this appears to be a situation McEwan believes manageable.
The Stingrays fans forum tomorrow night (8pm start) at the Hull Arena should reveal more information on the future of the Stingrays as a club with McEwan, Cloutier and a surprise guest or two - thought to be the club's first signings of the summer - all in attendance. Gough has also confirmed he will be in attendance to answer any questions on recent events.
