Collins in plea for Devils peace deal; 'McSorley's offer the only realistic one for Phillips'.

Byline: Terry Phillips

JO Collins, executive director of the Ice Hockey Players Association, is urging the owners of troubled Cardiff Devils 'sell up and end the pain.'

Collins has been in negotiations to broker a deal for the purchase of the lease and Findus British National League team Cardiff by Great Britain coach Chris McSorley.

Canadian McSorley and brother Marty have offered a deal eventually worth pounds 300,000-plus to take over the lease and the team.

Bob Phillips, who has been negotiating for the club, has turned down the offer.

"My view was and still is that McSorley's bid is the only realistic one he (Bob Phillips) would receive, " said Collins. "By taking it with both hands he would put an end to a whole lot of pain and anguish for a lot of people including himself.

"The continuing damage to the sport in Wales could also then stop."

Cardiff are currently bottom of the FBNL and have conceded 201 goals in 31 matches. Furious fans refuse to watch the team - there has been a vigil outside every home game this season.

"The bottom line for the IHPA was finding out if there really was a chance of last seasons players being paid what they are owed by way of a complete buy-out of the lease along with the team and all the trappings, " said Collins.

"I get the impression Bob Phillips was interested. He even furnished me with full details of what he considered was still owed to the players which reflected a figure not much different from those that have been bandied about to date.

"During the meeting I persuaded Bob to put down on paper in his own hand the exact amount that he would accept for a no-strings attached purchase of the lease, team and all that goes with running a hockey team in the UK.

"Bob wrote down that he would accept pounds 300,000 flat rate as a one-off deal. Then he also jotted down as an alternative that he would take pounds 200,000 plus pounds 50,000 and pounds 50,000 over a two-year period.

"Either way the deal would include the retention of existing office administration personnel and the rights by him to hold New Years Eve events for the next four years rent free.

"That was it in a nutshell.

"After some discussions Chris McSorley made an offer via e-mail on December 18 offering pounds 100,00 up front, pounds 150,000 within the fiscal year from the date of contract and a further pounds 50,000 to be placed into an account under the control of IHPA to go towards the eventual discharge of players debts.

"Since then the negotiations have foundered, largely as a result of three issues.

"1 How the pounds 300,000 is to be paid.

"2 Who is responsible for paying the pounds 50,000 towards the players debts.

"3 Most importantly, Bob Phillips complete reluctance so far to disclose the lease. They seem to be the three principle sticking points. We seem to be stuck with Bob Phillips having cried halt to any possible deal.

"In my view it is a crying shame and I cannot see how much more Chris McSorley can do. Who else is going to make an offer of that kind without even seeing the lease?

"The deal is firmly back in Bob Phillips' end zone right now.

"If he sincerely wants to sell his interest in the lease and the team and also to see the players debts paid in full then he should reconsider the offer made on December 18."