Its all going squirrelly!

Well, it has proven to be an interesting week to be a fan of Hockey in the UK!

First, there was the rumour, backed by the Phoenix office, of a meeting held between 6 of the surviving 9 EIHL clubs, to which Manchester, Edinburgh, and Newcastle where not invited.

Apparently, at the meeting, the discussion revolved around concerns raised by the other 3. Running from wage cap and import issues. However, rather than trying to cut the wage cap to help the smaller clubs remain competitive, and cutting imports to help promote the development of GB players, the other clubs decided that the sensible option was to RAISE the cap, and RAISE the number of imports! This flies in the face of a previous meeting held in November where the clubs agreed to cut the number of imports to 8. With 1 club dissenting. Wonder who...

We now have a situation with a "new" league structure being advocated by the "Big 6" where the wage cap is increased, the number of imports is increased, and to take part, it will cost you £10,000 bond to get in.

All this really smacks of the "Big 6" trying to force the smaller clubs out. Raise entry to the point where they know the smaller clubs cannot commit, and they are gone. Why they want to do this? I really dont know. Maybe to keep more of the pot for themselves. I know Edinburgh dont take too many fans on away trips, whilst for Nottingham games against Sheffield are a cash cow, but if Nottingham fans are guaranteed to see Sheffield a couple of times a month, then its going to get very boring, very quickly!

This got very interesting very quickly, until Friday...
http://edinburgh-capitals.com/news/detail.php?id=978
http://www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk/news/s/1487_phoenix_prepared_to_fight_for_0910_league_entry

Neil came out and painted a dark picture of the inner workings of the EIHL. Wage cap breaches going unpunished, and other dodgy goings-on. Scott Neil of Edinburgh didnt just paint an ungly picture, he ripped the curtain away and let the world take a damn good look!

Some of the Big 6 openly admitting to breaching the wage cap (no surprises who), and a lack of punishment. Clubs dipping into league funding without any consultation whatsoever. Generally, a high degree of corruptness all round.

Why would Neil and Scott do this? Going in to a meeting on Monday fighting for league survival?

For my money, its simple. Manchester, Newcastle, and Edinburgh do not have the power to make the others chnge their mind. After all, its 3 to 6 votes. However, with the threat of a VERY public airing of dirty linen from a couple of guys who have built their reputations on honesty and integrity, it may help persuade Hull and Cardiff to wobble. Bringing the voting round to 5-4. Another hope is that such a public shaming will concentrate minds a little and focus on the fact that a 6 team league really is unworkable in the long term.

Will all this work? Unlikely. This is a high risk strategy, and given those that run the league, they are just as capable of feeling pushed into a corner, and lashing back. Forcing Manchester and the others out much faster.

Will I be sad? Given the way the EIHL has worked, and the huge amount of corruption within. No. If the Phoenix are there next year, I can only hope Neil has managed to swing all sorts of concessions out of them to make it a viable league for the likes of the Phoenix. Such as a CHANCE of winning. I dont mind the Phoenix not winning the league. But it is nice to dream. The Big 4 just walk off every year!

As is more likely, the Phoenix will have to drop down to either the EPL, or a revamped Northern League. For one, I wont be too sad. At least the hockey will be a lot more honest!

And as I suspect, we will be in a position of strength when The Big 6 come calling to be let in when their dreams of European glory end in abject failure and the EIHL2/ISL3 collapses as it surely will.