News Article | 1st July 2008 » Big boost for Scimitars as Martin Birch stays on

Great news for the 2008-9 season.

Sheffield Scimitars's chairman and benefactor Martin Birch is to stay on, it was announced today.

It means English Premier League ice hockey is secured for the club which reached the play-offs last season.

The massive boost to the Scimitars comes after weeks of speculation centred on Martin's future with the club which, under his guidance, has enjoyed a period of remarkable success.

Mr Birch will now turn his attention to appointing a new coach to replace Neil Abel. A decision is expected shortly.

For the Scimitars the news puts the club, with its numerous academy and junior teams, on a solid footing going into the new season at iceSheffield.

Mr Birch, managing director of Sheffield-based Baker Blower Engineering, said: "The fans have been very patient. I can confirm that I will be part of the Scimitars.

"The last 12 months have been very hard for me - my own business was hit severely by the floods which saw up to 4ft 6ins water in the engineering shop floor. I have been under a great strain to recover a very good engineering business as well as trying to keep the Scimitars going.

"Eventually I will hand over - but only to a safe pair of hands that will provide a long term future that is so deserved for the Scimitars and its fans.

"The Scimitars will be strong this year and I am working on a few surprises. There is still much work to do but we are getting there and all will become very clear, very soon," added Martin.

Sheffield is the only city in the north of England to have a team at EPL level where the Scimitars have reached the play-offs in each of the last three years.