Sutton Sting in financial meltdown!  After just three years Sutton Sting face a major cash crisis which threatens the Ashfield club leaving hundreds of people in the cold!

Speaking today Sting GM Gary Apsley said "it's been a real tough year for the Sting and I'm sorry to say that the rumours eminating from Nottingham are true!"  The Sting are down to our last ten grand and we have to have all of the money spent within the next 8 weeks which takes us to the end of the current season."  The news follows rumours that the Gold Standard club had financial worries resulting from involvment with local EPL team Sheffield Scimitars, moving swiftly to clarify matters Apsley added "The Sting and the Scimitars are two completely separate Clubs, there is absolutely no cross-over of funds in any way shape or form.  We have been able to double-up on deals for kits and travel which has made our operating costs more efficient but as for the Sting being in trouble financially all I can say is the Sting has a very healthy bank balance!"

Sutton Sting is without doubt one of the best run hockey clubs in the country which provides youngsters with all the thrills and spills of playing ice hockey for a fraction of the cost of other clubs.  Membership of Sutton Sting is currently set at about £500 per year which is almost half of that charged by their neighbouring teams.  Apsley went on to say "I have just commissioned new designs for our 2010/11 team jerseys for all of our teams which presents the Club with new sponsorship opportunities although we already have long terms deals in place with Ian Shepherd at Shepherd Hydraulics and recently with Alwynn Morris at Javelin Construction.  The Club who play out of the Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton are now looking for new Associate Sponsors for the 2010/11 season and plan to unveil their new team strips in late May before the Club breaks for the Summer.

Following the Clubs most recent success with the U16 team finishing their league campaign as Champions the Club found itself under fire from rivals.  Apsley said "It's tough for other Clubs who don't have the strngths that we posses at Sutton.  Sure they have kids who can play hockey and that's fine because we're playing catch-up although we're catching up pretty quickly.  Last year our U12's won promotion as D2 champions, this years our U16's have won promotion as Champions of D2 and our U14 AA's are sitting comfortably in their league too so we might have three D1 teams next season which would be a truly remarkable achievement".

Speaking about the claims of a cash crisis Mr Apsley said "Sutton has no financial worries whatsoever, we are great fundraisers and we have solid backing from local business.  I guess other people are just jealous and let's be honest, we give them plenty to be jealous about!"