Wilson fears over Vipers future

Wilson won the play-offs in 2006 but have failed to challenge since

Newcastle Vipers player-coach Rob Wilson has admitted the future of ice hockey in the city remains in the balance after Sunday's play-off exit.

Vipers were beaten 6-4 by Coventry Blaze and now face an uncertain off-season as Wilson and owner Paul Ferrone discuss the feasibility of continuing.

"We have to re-look at everything," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We're just two guys trying to run a sports franchise, we have to make sure everything stacks up for us."

The ice hockey franchise has brought success to the city, with a play-off win for Wilson's side as recently as 2006.

But with rising costs across the sport, Wilson says the club's own circumstances have not helped - particularly in terms of their location with the hiring of the Newcastle Arena proving a large outlay.

It costs a lot more than people realise, it's quite expensive, you talk about venues, travel and players wages

Coach Rob Wilson

"The Arena is a business in itself and it's not cheap to rent the space for a game night," he said.

"It's a major cost that's coming out of the club every week."

The uncertainty has been tough on the players, whose own futures are in doubt and Wilson confessed their situation is one that he was keen to make concession for.

However, at this time the player-coach has said he cannot guarantee anything until they have taken a deeper look into the financial aspects of the business.

"We wanted to make sure we honoured everybody and got to the end of the season," he said.

"Me and Paul are going to tear about the business and look at it from any angle.

"It costs a lot more than people realise, it's quite expensive, you talk about venues, travel and players wages.

"We're working around the club during the next week to see what we can muster."

Vipers were formed in 2002, although ice hockey has enjoyed a long history in the area.

Durham Wasps, a forerunner of the Vipers franchise, remain one of ice hockey history's most successful teams and since there have been various guises of Newcastle-based hockey teams.