Ice Hockey: Edinburgh Capitals boss upbeat despite player pay ructions

The struggling Elite League club's boss has also readjusted his budget and believes he can maintain the current team.

But even Capitals' 7-6 win over Dundee CCS Stars in the inaugural Christmas Cup first-leg clash at Murrayfield last night cannot hide the problems facing the club. There is no doubt that Neil has been an unlucky victim of the recent bad weather. Gates have plummeted recently as the snow and ice has gripped Scotland and Sunday's clash with league rookies Dundee CCS Stars was "disastrous".

Capitals are, however, at the crossroads. That's the only conclusion one can draw from the latest Riversdale rink scenario.

Players have confirmed they are now on week-to-week contracts and that they can leave if they find other clubs. Agents are working for several currently.

Rumours of a Capitals cash crisis spread like wildfire around the league yesterday after a talk-in between Neil and the players at training on Tuesday. And last night, several angry senior players were in a line outside Neil's office looking to speak to the owner, claiming that they had not been paid.

Several said they had withheld their services from last night's game.

The situation was played out in front of Dundee CCS Stars' coaching staff and supporters of both clubs.

And it followed an appeal to the club's loyal fans to support last night's hastily-arranged clash with Stars when around 150 fans braved the freezing conditions to watch.

Some diehard supporters, realising the dire state of the club's finances, bought tickets but stayed at home.

Neil had earlier issued a statement warning that weather over the last month had made the operation of the club very difficult.

Capitals, he said, had six home games over the period and they should have been his best gates of the season.

Unfortunately, the box-office had been drastically down.

Neil added: "We are trying to look after the best interests of all at the club and are still confident of a successful conclusion, but the uncertainty of our income streams are extremely worrying and difficult to predict."

Late last night, Neil, who doubles as coach, confirmed that the players had now been paid and he added: "A full team will be on duty on Sunday (when Dundee return on Elite League business).

"Sunday is critical, particularly after the month we've had. Last Sunday (against Dundee) should have been a very good gate. It was disastrous.

"We have been struggling since the Braehead game on November 28. We were ticking along fine and our budgets were spot on until that night. We were expecting some good gates and we didn't get them.

"The impact of the snow has been really hard on the team."

Neil said he had been honest with the players on Tuesday but added: "The situation is not unsolvable.

"What I am doing right now is meeting potential investors.

"I have managed to secure some extra sponsorship. I don't want anything negative out there.

"I have been able to readjust budgets so I do not need to cut anyone of the team."

However, he is keeping his fingers crossed that the snow does not come on Sunday and that fans turn up in big numbers.

Last night, the tussle, in which only four minutes of penalties were handed out by top whistler, Moray Hanson, was, frankly, not an advert for the sport.

There was no programme, no announcer and no contact and fans paid 12 for the privilege (8 concessions, 5 children) of watching what was no more than an exhibition game.

However, senior home players really appreciated the supporters turning out as the thermometer dipped to minus seven.

Skipper Martin Cingel, who top scored with four goals, including a well-taken final strike, said: "It was good to see fans here - they are really behind us.

"Sunday will be different. We need the three points and so do Dundee although Thursday's game was good for some of the young guys who had a chance to show what they can do."

Jeff Hutchins, who scored two goals, - Adam Taylor got the other - added: "The fans really showed tremendous commitment to come out last night, particularly just before Christmas."

Capitals iced five imported players and Dundee three and the spirited Tayside team led 3-2 at the end of the opening period.

The home side upped their game in the middle session winning it 3-1 and the sides tied the final stanza 2-2.

Cingel's game-winner came one minute 25 seconds from time, the Slovakian firing the puck low into the net after a move down the right wing where Hutchins had provided the ammunition.

It was a rare moment of quality.

Peter Cartwright fired two for Stars with Euan Forsyth, Mark Nebus, Tristan Harper and James Smith scoring the remainder.

Dan Ceman, Stars' player/coach, who did not ice, said: "Sunday will be a different game.

"We've won the last two against Edinburgh and we'll try to keep the momentum going."