By Simon Parker

Oxford celebrate scoring the first of their five goals against Cardiff

Oxford City Stars manager Gary Dent has warned that ice hockey can only continue in the city if the club knows its limits.

The Stars are currently top of the English National Ice Hockey League South division but Dent believes making the jump to the Premier League this season, if they are crowned champions, would be "unsustainable".

"Unless we get substantial backing we will never go up," Dent told BBC Oxford following his side's enthralling 5-5 draw with the Cardiff Devils.

"At the stage we are at now, this is sustainable hockey. Moving up a league would be a huge gamble. We would need in excess of £150,000 and attract many more spectators to make the jump."

Oxford attacker Joe Edwards netted twice against Cardiff

There has been an ice hockey team in Oxford ever since the rink opened in the city in the mid-1980s.

But previous attempts to make the second national tier have proved the downfall of prior Oxford outfits.

"There was an Oxford side that tried to play in the league above but it went bust," Dent added.

"In my opinion there will only be two or three teams in the entire country that actually make any money from the sport."

Around 200 supporters cheered on the Stars against Cardiff and it is damning proof of the small crowds that lower-league ice hockey attracts in the United Kingdom.

The Oxford squad reflect following the match

In contrast the biggest clash in the Elite League - Sheffield Steelers against Nottingham Panthers - recently attracted nearly 9,000 spectators.

"For us this is a good place to be at the moment. We can continue to offer ice hockey to kids and adults, and that's the sort of club we want to be. We've got something like 15 teams down here at the moment," Dent continued.

"We offer the people of Oxfordshire something a bit different. We get a lot of families down here and generate a good atmosphere for our size."

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