Telford Tigers have hit out at the proposal to exclude them from the EPL play-offs.

As exclusively reported by BIH earlier today, some rival club owners want the EIHA to ban the Tigers from the end-of-season shoot-out as “punishment” for Telford Ice Sports Ltd being placed into voluntary liquidation last November.

A consortium of local businesses acquired the club’s assets and agreed to fund its operations moving forward but, despite there being no provision in the rules of competition for retrospective action to be taken, wheels have been set in motion to try and kick the Tigers out of the post-season showdown.

A statement on the Tigers’ website read: “Telford Tigers would like to say they do not accept the proposal to exclude the team from this season’s EPIHL play-offs.

“The club is in discussions with league representatives, including EIHA chairman Ken Taggart, to have this exclusion rescinded.

“This proposal is not within the rules of competition for the EPIHL, and the league has no power to unilaterally exclude a team, from the play-off competition.

“The rules expressly mandate that the play-off invitations are determined by final league position. Telford Tigers are currently top of the English Premier League.

“It is clear that the proposal is unlawful as discriminatory and breaches the agreement consented to by each league team.

“As a club, we will be using every avenue available to us, to make sure Telford Tigers participate in the end of season play-offs.”

(Image permission: Steve Brodie)