WILDCATS head coach Peter Russell has been sacked by the English Premier League ice hockey club.

The Scot, pictured, who has been in charge at the Link Centre since the 2006/07 season, was surprisingly given his marching orders yesterday with the club blaming the economic climate and their desire to move in a “different direction” for the decision.

The Cats have won seven of their last 12 fixtures in an encouraging start to the current campaign, but general manager Steve Nell was adamant they had got their timing right.

“It was a club decision,” admitted Nell.

“We just felt it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it for a little bit of a change.

“The results haven’t been too bad, but it’s not all about what happens on the ice, it’s about everything.

“We’re just looking at the economic climate, what we’ve got and how the team are doing, and we thought that for the long term it is the best thing to do.

“Pete has been a great asset to the club but we are now moving in a different direction and are adopting new strategies to move forward.

“Due to this and with the added pressures of the current economic climate we felt that this was a change that needed to happen.”

Wildcats face a double-header against the Slough Jets this weekend, and Nell revealed the club are attempting to recruit a temporary coach to take charge while they search for a new boss.

He also paid tribute to Russell following his two-year spell at the Link Centre, and insisted that no rash decisions will be made in finding a replacement for the Scot.

“I can’t criticise Peter at all and would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his services to the club over recent times and wish him all the best for the future, as everyone does here.

“He was upset and shocked when we told him, but he’s a professional and knows that things like this happen.

“He shouldn’t struggle to get another job and there’s a couple of clubs without a coach who may be looking at him.

“As for us, there’s no-one in the frame at the moment and I’m trying to get a temporary coach in for the weekend.

“I don’t just want to rush into it and appoint anyone. It’s got to be the right person and we’ll take our time to get it right. If that’s before the weekend then great, but if it takes three weeks then so be it.”

Assistant coach Ryan Aldridge could be among the favourites to take over from Russell, after the local lad moved back to the Wildcats last month from Elite League outfit Basingstoke Bison.