Fife Flyers could benefit from multi-million pound EIHL funding package

Ice hockey has been included as part of the £300 million ‘Winter Survival Package’ across a range of sports, with an initial allocation of £4 million being made available to the EIHL.

It could spell good news for Fife Flyers, though it has yet to be decided how the money is to be spent as the funding process is in the hands of Sport England.

League Chairman Tony Smith said it the EIHL are still working on the finer details of the package, and what it means for a possible return of top-flight ice hockey in the UK.

"It will be important for us to understand how much of the funding is made up of grants or loans,” he said, “as that will have a large impact on how we can proceed, together with any additional requirements we need to fulfil."

Mr Smith said the funding, announced by Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston, was much needed, but has asked fans of the sport for their patience.

"As a league, we were quite clear over the summer that we needed fans in arenas or government support in order to play, and in this regard today’s announcement of funding is extremely welcome.

"However, I’d like to ask our fans to let us assess what exactly is available to us, and what possibilities this may or may not open up, before we come back to you.

"There is a lot more detail still to come from the DCMS and Sport England that we need to know, and above all it’s important that we consider the sustainability of the entire Elite League both now and over the next few years before we make any final decisions.”