Planet Field Hockey

By Claire Middleton

After seven months in HEL, hockey has set up a new governing body to administer the sport from Jan 1.

The original organisation, the English Hockey Association, had debts of £700,000. Hockey England Ltd were created as an interim measure so the sport could continue to function internationally and domestically.

Now HEL are to be replaced by England Hockey Ltd, who will take over in the New Year and be be presented to the annual meeting in April.

The question still remains about what will happen to the debt run up by the EHA, which has been reduced to around £250,000 after clubs paid a levy of £60 per team. Creditors have so far been paid 25p in the pound but could receive more if a potential VAT liability of almost £500,000 is dismissed. The VAT issue also affects other sports and is the subject of lobbying at government level.

The new body have four temporary directors, including Stewart Newton, the chairman of Brighton and Hove HC, who came up with a £500,000 rescue package at an extraordinary general meeting last May.

A new constitution, to be presented at the annual meeting, is likely to recommend a board of nine directors, one of whom would be chairman. All would be elected by the clubs.

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