Strachan steps down as coach

Rick Strachan has stepped down as head coach of the Excel Hull Stingrays after the club today announced a re-structuring that will see a new player-coach signed for the 09/10 season.

With a new coach for next season, co-owner Mike Pack take over the teams managerial duties, meanwhile Strachan will remain as director of the Stingrays parent company, Lifetime Sports Ltd, but will take a back seat with team involvement for next season, the Rays first without the soon to be 46 year old Canadian.

Stingrays co-owner Mike Pack commented on the decision:

"The Stingrays are not immune to the financial situation and this has led to a need to re-think the structure of the club. Prior to going into next season we have had to examine the club's finances and will now embark on a search for a player-coach and I will take on the managerial duties. This approach is in line with most other teams in the Elite League."

Fellow co-owner Sue Pack added:

"Mike, Rick Strachan and myself are long-term friends. All three of us operate to the same code of ethics. The level of class and integrity Rick brought to his duties with the Stingrays was second to none. It is an honour to have him as a friend and to have shared the last seven years together. Whoever comes into the new role of player-coach will have some very big skates to fill."

Strachan had been the Stingrays only head coach since their inaugural season in 2003/04 in the British National League and helped the Stingrays to a moderately successful second season in the BNL in 04/05.

The team moved to the four import English Premier League for one season in 05/06, where they finished in a disappointing eighth place, despite reportedly having a higher wage bill than most teams.

In 2006 the Stingrays applied, and were accepted into the sports top flight, the Elite League, for the first time in their history. But they have since failed to make the playoffs for the three consecutive years since, and with fans growing increasingly frustrated by his defensive tactics and with attendances falling to below 700, the club made the decision to part ways.

Only on Monday did Strachan reflect on the Stingrays latest disappointment, after losing two must win games, the team were condemned to the golf course a week early for the third time in three seasons.

"We made progress this year, but not enough. It was disappointing, but there were factors out of our control."

"I cannot fix losing three defencemen for huge periods of the season. Sometimes we were playing with only three defencemen, and one of those was Steve Slonina, who was signed as a forward.

"Last year we didn't have any forwards, this year we had no D! But give Mike and Sue Pack, the owners, full credit. They sucked it up financially and they carried an extra import from Christmas."

When questioned about the fans clear anger after failure to qualify once again, with a number of fans voicing their opinions as the team did their annual walkaround the rink to thank fans following defeat against Edinburgh, he replied:

"At times it's demoralising. I feel the fans' frustration, but they could try walking a mile in my shoes. I can't just snap my fingers and go out and find more players."

"Taking the flak is the nature of sport, you have to have a thick skin. But of course it gets to me, I am human."

His six year tenure as Stingrays coach has now ended, with his record in three years of Elite League play standing at 162 games, 47 wins, 112 losses, 387 goals for and a mighty 614 goals against.

The search for a player-coach for the Stingrays 09/10 season in the Elite League, their fourth in the top flight, will now begin with many disillusioned fans admitting they will return to support the side with Strachan out of the picture.