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Clan reveal plans for new season underway
by Craig Anderson of Slapshot Scotland: http://slapshotscotland.wordpress.com.
The Braehead Clan have announced Adam Walker and Matt Haywood have signed for next season – with talks to keep Drew Bannister already underway.
The revelations were made at a fans forum meeting in Renfrew on Wednesday night, with Bannister in attendance along with Walker, bench coach Frank Morris, General Manager Kirsty Longmuir and Clan owner Neil Black.
Black, who also owns the Nottingham Panthers, also revealed Clan, from next season, will play in purple kit as their home colours, with the current white kit becoming the alternate choice when the season begins again in September.
But he admitted he wants Bannister to stay on and give the side some continuity, something that was missed when previous coach Bruce Richardson left last summer.
Black told fans: “I can tell everyone now that Adam Walker and Matt Haywood have already agreed to come back on board for next season.
“We’d like Drew to be here next year and we’re looking to firm that up as we know he likes it here. Continuity is important and that’s what we’re looking to achieve this summer.”
Bannister had said he is unsure what his future holds as he ponders whether or not to continue as a player and perhaps focus more on the coaching side, but revealed discussions were underway with the owner and the possibility of a less playing “11th import” was even mentioned.
Bannister added: “I don’t know if I’ll play next year. I’ll be 38 on my birthday and will have played ice hockey for 19 years and featured in over 1,000 games. As a player, I know I’m not where I was 10 years ago and combining playing and coaching is a very difficult task.
“I’m looking to wind down certainly and if there is room for an extra import, as a back-up, it could be me.
“As for the team, I’m enjoying the job and I’m privileged to have been given the opportunity. It’s a team with a bright future and I want to be part of that. We’re not looking to next season, we’re looking four years down the road.
“We need to build a core of British players and the move to bring in Lee Mitchell from Dundee was part of that plan. But attracting some of the best British players is difficult, with some playing in the English Premier League and on good money.”
“At the moment, with the players, I don’t think we’re far off our full potential and I think we’ll see how good we can be in the coming weeks as we push further for the play-offs.”
Walker reckoned his side have nothing to fear as the season reaches the business end of things when he said: “We don’t fear anyone and as the coach says, we’re still finding our level of consistency. We’ve beaten everyone in the league this season with the exception of Sheffield Steelers, but we’ve only played them twice.”
Looking ahead to this weekend, Bannister insists Clan will have no scores to settle when his men return to Kirkcaldy this Saturday to take on Fife Flyers, 11 days after a penalty shots win that saw him clash with Danny Stewart, who had clashed with netminder Jaakko Suomalainen.
He said: “I felt what Danny did was wrong to Jaakko, but it’s another hockey game and it’s not about settling scores or any issues. Danny might feel differently though.
“We’re just concentrating on getting the two points and anything that happens to come up during the game, we’ll deal with.”
General Manager Kirsty Longmuir was delighted with the turnout and said she and the club will take the comments made on board.
She said: “I was happy with the turn out for our first Clan Forum of the year and I think it went really well. Plus it was nice to see so many fans turn out for the event.
“All of the members of the Clan panel enjoyed seeing so many fans in the room, and we were all happy to answer the questions that were posed.
“We will take on board the comments and suggestions made and we will continue to work on improving both the on and off ice experience for the fans.”
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- Bannister returns to Clan as coach
- Clan Captain Krestanovich back for 2012/13
- Will sticks with Clan
- Clan sign Scots born Ryan Watt
- McPherson back for second season with Clan
