REGARDING your coverage (LET, January 11) of the Blackburn Hawks v Romford Raiders match, it amazes me that in a report of just over 200 words, more than a third was devoted to negative remarks regarding the attendance.

While the survival of any club usually depends on its support, I would have thought that your reporter could have made more important comments, especially in view of recent events at the Arena.

The release of five of our team during last week unfortunately reflects the unstable situation in general in British hockey. However, in the Hawks' case, there are possibly other reasons why they appear to be struggling financially.

It is my opinion that these problems are to some extent self-inflicted. We have a very good ice pad, and had the basis of a good squad, but everything else at the Arena is basically unsatisfactory.

It would appear our attendances bearing in mind we are now in the third division, compare well with other teams', and are higher than a number - even some of the British National League teams. But I feel the club is now reaping what it sowed a number of years ago, during the Chartrand, Kummu, Haigh, Sinkov era, and before, when we had a really good attractive side.

All people from the Arena seem to say is that no-one will come. That is certainly the case nowadays, when there are so many leisure activities on which to spend cash, and if marketing and selling hockey at Blackburn is not improved, I fear the worst.

Sponsorship is of course vital, and, unfortunately, this has not been obtained on a large scale.

There must basically be good communication between everyone involved. But advertising of matches is almost non-existent, and until quite recently there was virtually nothing on local radio and elsewhere, including, to some extent the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

I would be devastated if we were to lose the hockey. It is up to the management of the Arena, or others in authority to get organised and promoted/advertise hockey in a much more positive way and make people want to come.

People have recently stated we aim to win the league, and we are currently top. However, surely, you don't release five squad members if you are serious?

C E BERRY, Bolton Road, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.