Phoenix not about to rise to the Premier League

Manchester Phoenix have dismissed speculation they are about to drop into the English Premier League by signing up to a restructured Elite League.

Teams will only be allowed ten import players per roster on any given game night although they can have more in their squads.

They will meet each other three times home and away for a 48-game season and the Knockout Cup - the competition Phoenix lost to Belfast in the final - will cease.

A new revised Challenge Cup will also take place leading to a one-game, neutral-venue final.

Chairman Eamon Convery also announced that a new early-season tournament weekend and three-day festival would feature in the league programme.