Hot Off the Presses:

"And now, the generals are saying they'll take a stand
But their heads are buried deep, deep in the sand"
Kara's Flowers: "Sleepy Windbreaker"

Manchester, as announced by owner Neil Morris at their fans' forum oh...about half an hour ago, are now an EPL team-the speculation is true...Morris has said that he will inform the EIHL board of the decision this evening.

Their signings thus far are Steve Fone from Coventry, with Adam Summerfield backing up in net, the returning Carl Graham, Luke Boothroyd and Adam Walker, and new signing Joe Graham from Nottingham, along with several ENL Phoenix players.

Other news from the forum has Belfast being openly pointed at as a wage-cap breaking team, and hints at several returnees from previous Phoenix seasons being rumoured (Joe Tallari being one). Despite the Vipers fan forum last week also saying they were committed to the EIHL for at least this season, you now have to wonder just whether, as many fear, the Elite League's days are now numbered.

So there we are. It's an eight-team EIHL. And has become one AFTER the league planned to go forward with nine teams and tried to convince us that everyone was on the same page...

You see that white stuff on the floor? That's spilt milk, and that sobbing you can hear is the directors of eight teams crying as they wonder how they're going to sort out the hole this'll leave...

Your move, Elite League...British hockey fans are watching you more closely than ever now...