Caroline Garbett, TygerPR
As the team's first season under supporter ownership draws to its conclusion, Telford Tigers player-coach Tom Watkins has confirmed he will continue to lead the team for a second year.He is expected to sign his new contract in front of the fans at Sunday's final home league game of the season, against Guildford Flames (5.30pm).
Club chairman Alan Gould said: "When we signed Tom a year ago it was because he demonstrated the kind of long-term vision and ambition we needed for the Tiger Tracks supporters trust.
"We are breaking new ground all the time, as the first fan-owned team in British ice hockey, and Tom has been a key figure in building and motivating the squad, forging links within the hockey community and promoting the club to schools.
"Tom has the complete backing of the trust board, the fans and his players, so we are very pleased he has taken up his option to re-sign for year two of our adventure. Doing the contract live at the rink is our way of including all the supporter owners in this important step for the team."
Watkins joined Tigers after ten years with the highly successful Coventry Blaze Elite team. The 33-year-old was recently selected to the GB squad that will face the Netherlands next month and travel to Kiev for the World Championships.
Taking a break from preparing for this weekend's season closing game Watkins said: "I'm pleased with the progress we've made, and that we have made it through our first season. Now we are able to build for the year ahead, use the time we have this summer wisely.
"On the ice we've made steady improvements. We always knew it was going to take two to three seasons to get where we want to be - this is a long-term plan."
When Watkins was appointed last May, the Tigers had still to be accepted into the English Premier League, so team building got off to a slow start. Watkins intends to address that this time around.
"I have already been talking to players about next year - people who I am hoping to retain and others I would like to bring to Telford - although we are not ready to announce any signings just yet," he said. "Meanwhile our performance in the league may not have been great, but many of the guys have had a good season and that attracts the attention of other teams. So I am actively working on next year's squad."
Despite missing out on a place in the play-offs, Watkins remains positive about his side's competitive spirit.
"I don't think targeting the play-offs was unrealistic," he said. "We had to have something to aim for, to work for. A lot of people wouldn't believe the budget we are working to and that we came so close to that last play-off place. But we were not just here to finish the season - we want to win.
"Of course we are disappointed not to be in the post-season games, and we can look back and clearly see where we let the points slip. We let Sheffield beat us six times and, with only the last weekend left, we were just six points behind them. We-ve taken points from the top teams, but credit to Sheffield, they outperformed us in those games that mattered.
"There have been lots of highs, and a few lows, over the past year. What is important is how we react to them as a team. Consistency is the thing we need to focus on for next year.
"On the ice, the wins against Slough and Guildford were a great boost. We have put in some solid performances and then there have been outstanding ones, like Joe Henry's in Basingstoke. And we have had superb goaltending from Martin Clarkson and Declan Ryan, that has kept us in many of our games.
"Odd as it might sound, just playing the two games this weekend is one of my highlights of the year. There was an element of risk and uncertainty to play for the Tigers - an untried ownership model - individually and collectively as a team. It was a jump into the unknown for all of us. But we've made it through the year and that brings a real sense of accomplishment, proving the doubters wrong.
"So credit has to go to all those involved for getting us through our first season."
Doors open on Sunday at 4.45pm, with the face off against Guildford at 5.30pm. There will be a presentation of 'Own and Loan' home playing shirts to the individual sponsors in the Ice Rink bar afterwards.
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