North East sports: Vipers death was slow but on the cards

Jun 5 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

The demise of the Newcastle Vipers was a wake-up call to the North’s sporting clubs. So just how are the region’s teams faring? Chief Sports Writer MARK DOUGLAS takes a look at the varying fortunes of our sporting empire

JAMIE LONGMUIR reckons he suspected the game was up in October.

That was when the Newcastle Vipers, already engaged in a fierce battle for survival, started to notice swathes of empty seats for Elite League games at their reluctant home in Whitley Bay.

Dwindling interest, combined with a struggle to raise sponsorship cash and a team unable to compete in a tough league, was always an unsustainable combination.

The Vipers had been skating on thin ice for a few years, but this summer it finally reached breaking point.

“We’re very disappointed to have lost the Vipers, but it has been a battle for the last few years,” the former Vipers general manager said.

“The North East, as a region, has always had a big presence in hockey when you look back.

“At one point there were five clubs but now there isn’t an Elite league presence, which will be a huge blow for the region’s hockey fans.

“There were a lot of different factors for the demise of the Vipers, but our main issue was that we didn’t have our own venue.

“That caused massive, massive problems and leaves you pretty much with no control over your own destiny.

“I thought from October that we were fighting a losing battle.

“From then it was all about keeping afloat until the end of the season, making sure we didn’t leave anyone short-changed and then trying to find a rescue package in the summer.

“Unfortunately it just hasn’t happened.”

Losing the Vipers was a wake-up call for the North in a transitional year for our professional sports clubs.

While the relative success of our ‘big two’ football clubs – consolidation from Newcastle, improvement from Sunderland – gave a veneer of respectability, there are cracks appearing below the surface.

Premier League football dominates our thoughts, and on that front, there was little cause for complaint.

The usual ups and downs aside, both the Black Cats and Magpies did everything required of them.

And while there are still issues surrounding Mike Ashley ownership – not least that sale of Andy Carroll – the overall drive towards financial sustainability has to be applauded.

Just ask the other professional teams how things have been this season.

Newcastle Falcons have endured a grim year.

Rosier off the field for the input of Semore Kurdi, Alan Tait’s approach left many Falcons fans cold and nearly cost them their priceless Premiership status.