The very future of ice hockey in Hull once again hangs in the balance today. Reports from both BBC Radio Humberside and the Hull Dail Mail suggested that today would be 'D-Day' for the club with their very future 'hanging in the balance'.
However, owners Mike and Sue Pack, who had set up a press conference today at 1pm to address where they would find a replacement for some of the £150,000 which they begrudgingly pumped into the club last season, remain ominously silent over the claims.
The silence is deafening for Stingrays fans, and has been for some time with the club refusing to be drawn on any speculation.
The lack of response from the owners is understandable, given they are most likely spending much of their time scraping the barrel for every last sponsor available. However, this latest silence comes with a list of details yet to be revealed for the upcoming season and with reports from official media outlets that the club may soon cease to exist.
The pre-season tournament with Tilburg, Nottingham and Belfast slated for the last weekend in August as well as news of the final defensive signing, a new website and new sponsors are all yet to be revealed and follow the worrying departure of defenceman Stephen Burns.
As one of the success stories from last season, Burns was expected to return in August for the second year of a two-year contract with the club but mysteriously quit the club mid-way through the summer. There has been a similar silence
The pre-season tournament expected to start on 29 August is now less than three weeks away and it is now beginning to look highly unlikely that the club will line up for its eighth season and fifth in the UK's top flight in September
Nevertheless, there has yet to be confirmation of the disbandment of the club and the lack of presence from the owners can only mean they are fighting to the death to keep the organisation alive.
More news is expected very soon.
