SWINDON Wildcats have this evening announced that they have made an application to join the National Ice Hockey League Division One South from next season.

With English Premier League play-off winners Milton Keynes Lightning and Guildford Flames successfully applying to make the step up to the Elite League, the top tier of British ice hockey, for next season, and Manchester Phoenix going bust last term, the EPL has been left with just seven teams.

Wildcats owner Steve Nell has made the decision to make a formal application to the NIHL after an email from English Ice Hockey Association chairman Ken Taggart on Sunday evening, advising the remaining EPL teams to make applications to the NIHL North and South, respectively.

Nell believes the decision to move down a league is the best for Swindon, who have been in the second tier of British Hockey in some guise since 1998, to remain sustainable as a club.

“After receiving the email from the chairman and his thoughts regarding the sustainability of the EPIHL moving forward, we have taken the decision to make the application,” he said.

“The NIHL meeting will be on Sunday, May 7, where the teams of the NIHL will hear our application.

“At the fans forum on Tuesday, February 28, we told the fans we would keep them updated as and when we have more information to share.

“With that in mind we wanted to share the detail we know so far at the earliest possible opportunity.

“With regards to a season schedule for the 2017/18 season we will have to wait until after the meeting on May 7 before we can give any additional details to next year’s league structure and schedule.”

The club will provide further updates after the meeting on May 7.