Post by Claret & Blue Army on Jan 4, 2005 18:33:43 GMT 1
Dunno who has heard about this but Vipers insurance ran out at the end of December which the Flames gave as an excuse not to play. However Vipers I believe got an extention until January 14th to allow play to continue.
Flames still refused to travel and play costing Newcastle (Who are already seriously in the red) to lose approximately £10k
My take is that Guildford who have a big say in the happenings at BNL level used this as a punishment for the Vipers quitting the BNL for the greener grass of the Elite League and stuck the boot in. I may well be proved to be wrong but in my opinion it looks a bit petty
Please see the following from the Newcastle site
Vipers v Guildford Flames
Newcastle Vipers regrettably had to postpone their scheduled British National League game against the Guildford Flames this evening (Sunday, Jan 2nd). This issue revolved around the Guildford management's refusal to travel to Newcastle because of a question over the Vipers' employers and public liability insurance cover.
This false accusation came about when Jo Collins of the Ice Hockey Players Association issued correspondence on Friday (Dec 31st) to a number of British National League and Elite Ice Hockey League clubs indicating that the Newcastle Vipers had not paid their insurance premiums. On Saturday afternoon (Jan 1st), the Guildford Flames management advised Newcastle owner Darryl Illingworth, by e-mail, that they were not travelling to Tyneside for tonight's scheduled BNL game as the Vipers did not have the required insurance cover. Further e-mails and telephone calls between the Ice Hockey Players Association and the Newcastle Vipers led to Jo Collins confirming to the Vipers that the employers and public liability insurance cover was in place until January 14th when it is due for renewal.
Vipers owner Darryl Illingworth then contacted the Guildford Flames management via a telephone call mid afternoon on Saturday (Jan 1st) to confirm that all insurance cover was in place, and that the Guildford Flames would travel to Newcastle for today's game. However, the Guildford management advised the Vipers that they would not travel unless confirmation was received directly from the IHPA .
The Vipers contacted Jo Collins, Bob Bramah and another BNL director for further clarification and all three confirmed to the Guildford Flames that insurance cover was in place, and valid. Despite this, the Flames management stated they would not travel to Tyneside as they felt the Vipers would not be in a suitable financial position to pay the next instalment of the insurance premiums. After further discussions with Jo Collins, Bob Bramah, the same BNL director and two Elite League directors - who were asked by Newcastle to act as mediators in the absence of BNL Chairman Tom Muir - it was confirmed to Guildford that the financial situation was not an issue, and Guildford should fulfil their obligation. However, they once again refused to travel.
After much deliberation and soul searching, the Newcastle Vipers made the decision early this morning to postpone tonight's game. The Vipers management then discussed the possibility with the Metro Radio Arena and Guildford about re-arranging the game for Monday afternoon. The Metro Radio Arena confirmed that it would be possible for the Vipers to use tomorrow's slot and Bob Bramah confirmed that the fixture would be acceptable for Monday. Once again, Guildford refused to travel. Due to the club's and the Metro Radio Arena's heavy schedule, the Vipers had no choice but to postpone the game indefinitely.
As a consequence, Newcastle Vipers have tonight circulated correspondence around all BNL directors demanding severe action be taken against the Guildford Flames and their directors. Due to the postponement of tonight's game, the Vipers have lost what will have been a very important revenue stream for the business, in what is already a very difficult time for the club. The postponement also means that each and everyone of the Vipers' supporters have been inconvenienced, as well as those Guildford fans that would have been travelling up to the North East for the game, and robbed of a hockey game on the last weekend of the festive period. The Newcastle Vipers management would like to pass on their sincerest apologies to those that this has affected, and thank them for their support once again in this situation.
Flames still refused to travel and play costing Newcastle (Who are already seriously in the red) to lose approximately £10k
My take is that Guildford who have a big say in the happenings at BNL level used this as a punishment for the Vipers quitting the BNL for the greener grass of the Elite League and stuck the boot in. I may well be proved to be wrong but in my opinion it looks a bit petty
Please see the following from the Newcastle site
Vipers v Guildford Flames
Newcastle Vipers regrettably had to postpone their scheduled British National League game against the Guildford Flames this evening (Sunday, Jan 2nd). This issue revolved around the Guildford management's refusal to travel to Newcastle because of a question over the Vipers' employers and public liability insurance cover.
This false accusation came about when Jo Collins of the Ice Hockey Players Association issued correspondence on Friday (Dec 31st) to a number of British National League and Elite Ice Hockey League clubs indicating that the Newcastle Vipers had not paid their insurance premiums. On Saturday afternoon (Jan 1st), the Guildford Flames management advised Newcastle owner Darryl Illingworth, by e-mail, that they were not travelling to Tyneside for tonight's scheduled BNL game as the Vipers did not have the required insurance cover. Further e-mails and telephone calls between the Ice Hockey Players Association and the Newcastle Vipers led to Jo Collins confirming to the Vipers that the employers and public liability insurance cover was in place until January 14th when it is due for renewal.
Vipers owner Darryl Illingworth then contacted the Guildford Flames management via a telephone call mid afternoon on Saturday (Jan 1st) to confirm that all insurance cover was in place, and that the Guildford Flames would travel to Newcastle for today's game. However, the Guildford management advised the Vipers that they would not travel unless confirmation was received directly from the IHPA .
The Vipers contacted Jo Collins, Bob Bramah and another BNL director for further clarification and all three confirmed to the Guildford Flames that insurance cover was in place, and valid. Despite this, the Flames management stated they would not travel to Tyneside as they felt the Vipers would not be in a suitable financial position to pay the next instalment of the insurance premiums. After further discussions with Jo Collins, Bob Bramah, the same BNL director and two Elite League directors - who were asked by Newcastle to act as mediators in the absence of BNL Chairman Tom Muir - it was confirmed to Guildford that the financial situation was not an issue, and Guildford should fulfil their obligation. However, they once again refused to travel.
After much deliberation and soul searching, the Newcastle Vipers made the decision early this morning to postpone tonight's game. The Vipers management then discussed the possibility with the Metro Radio Arena and Guildford about re-arranging the game for Monday afternoon. The Metro Radio Arena confirmed that it would be possible for the Vipers to use tomorrow's slot and Bob Bramah confirmed that the fixture would be acceptable for Monday. Once again, Guildford refused to travel. Due to the club's and the Metro Radio Arena's heavy schedule, the Vipers had no choice but to postpone the game indefinitely.
As a consequence, Newcastle Vipers have tonight circulated correspondence around all BNL directors demanding severe action be taken against the Guildford Flames and their directors. Due to the postponement of tonight's game, the Vipers have lost what will have been a very important revenue stream for the business, in what is already a very difficult time for the club. The postponement also means that each and everyone of the Vipers' supporters have been inconvenienced, as well as those Guildford fans that would have been travelling up to the North East for the game, and robbed of a hockey game on the last weekend of the festive period. The Newcastle Vipers management would like to pass on their sincerest apologies to those that this has affected, and thank them for their support once again in this situation.
