No 'conflict of interest' for new Stingrays owners

Former owners Mike and Sue Pack called time on their seven-year spell at Hull Arena last week after it became clear they would not be able to raise enough money to cover the cost of another season of top-flight hockey in the city.

But several days of talks have led to the owners of Elite League rivals Coventry Blaze assuming control of the club to ensure there will be a 10-team league during the 2010-11 campaign, with player-coach Sylvain Cloutier continuing in his player-coach role in Hull.

And despite the Blaze management team having a clear financial interest in both teams, fans have been assured that each club will be run completely separately.

'Cloutier keen to make most of Stingrays' lifeline'

Coventry director Andy Buxton, who helped form the club alongside Mike Cowley and head coach Paul Thompson 10 years ago, said: "Hull as a club is something that can definitely grow.

"There is no conflict of interest. Essentially, we will be running two separate sports businesses. We run several business operations and this is just another one of them.

"The teams will do what they need to do on the ice, independent of each other – we want them giving it everything every time they play each other."

Cloutier, a former Coventry player uunder Thompson, was scheduled to return to the UK today anyway in order to settle his affairs in Hull but can now set about finalising his roster for the new season.

"If there's one club the Stingrays should aspire to be like, it's Coventry," said Cloutier.

"When I found out they were looking to get involved I was immediately excited because I know how good they are as an organisation.

"We're just glad we can come back to Hull because my family love it there.

"Now I need to ensure that we get the best product out there on the ice."