Ice hockey fans trying to resurrect the Telford Tigers English Premier League team have succeeded in registering a supporters’ trust to run the club.
It is the first ice hockey supporters’ trust to be created in the UK.
The application to create The Telford Tigers Society Ltd was approved by the Financial Services Authority.
Mike Dixon, who has co-ordinated the campaign to save the team, said he was thrilled the bid had been successful.
He said: “The society will trade as Tiger Tracks - a much simpler name for supporters and sponsors to work with - and the interim committee is grateful to Supporters Direct for their help in creating a constitution that was acceptable to the FSA.
“The next step is to fix a date for the Tiger Tracks trust launch party, which we hope to be able to announce very soon.
“This event will give everyone who wants to see Tigers back in the EPL next season an opportunity to get involved - as a member of the trust, volunteering as a club officer or signing up as a sponsor.”
Registration with the FSA was necessary for the Tiger Tracks group to be legally incorporated and therefore able to sign up members of the co-operative society that will own and manage the team.
An interim committee of volunteers has been working to reinstate the team since club owners David and Rachel Candlin stepped down last April.
In addition to Mr Dixon - who previously edited the Tigers programme - the group includes former Tigers equipment manager Andy Phillips, English Ice Hockey Association official Rita MacKriel, top player Marek Hornak and supporter Clare Shaw, who took on a fundraising role with the Tigers and organised a successful fun day in Madeley last year.
Mr Dixon added: “We are looking for volunteers who can give us a regular time commitment to the team and people who can provide introductions to potential team sponsors. Anyone who would like to help the club is welcome to join us and can register their support by email at interest@telfordtigers.co.uk ”
For more information about Telford Tigers visit the team’s website - www.telfordtigers.co.uk