YOUR report (LET, January 11) on Blackburn Hawks match with Romford Raiders emphasised the fact that attendances have increased little from last year's disastrous season, even though the Hawks are currently top of the league.

This match was played on a Saturday evening and started just over an hour after Blackburn Rovers finished a big match against Leeds United - not the best of organisation to attract a big crowd.

But the problem lies much deeper than bad timing of fixtures. The fact is, that no-one but the regulars at Hawks' matches has any idea when games are to take place. If the general public are not made aware of matches they cannot turn up.

The Arena management simply does not advertise the fact that there is an ice hockey team in the town. Your newspaper is the most powerful form of media in East Lancashire, yet the publicity given to inform the public of forthcoming fixtures is almost non-existent.

Information is often given on the very day of the match and probably read by the majority after the event has started. I have never seen a league table published or results of other clubs' matches, as is the norm with football.

The Hawks play in a National League, attracting crowds far in excess of the biggest non-league football clubs in East Lancashire and although you regularly feature full tables and results of the local under 10s seven-a-side football league, there is no such statistical information on the Hawks league.

How are potential supporters to judge the importance of matches if they are unaware of other teams' situations?

There is an increasingly strong perception among Hawks fans that the team is being deliberately managed to fail. Five quality players have just been axed from the squad to cut costs. This with the team top of the league.

It is understood, from the players, that even if they win the league - which is now most unlikely - they will not be allowed to enter the end of season play-offs. Many fans feel that whenever success has appeared to be likely, it seems to have been cunningly avoided by making cuts.

GORDON McMANUS, Langdale Road, Blackburn.

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