OXFORD'S ice hockey team, the City Motors Fox Blades, are folding just two months into the season - just as they've at last discovered how to win.

In their first season last year, the team humiliatingly lost every single English League Premier Division match.

Yet, after chalking up their third win on Sunday with a 9-3 victory over Cardiff Rage, the directors had to admit that they couldn't meet their running costs.

Director Sid Cabby outlined the irony behind the collapse.

He said: "City Motors sponsored us last season and provided us with a couple of cars this season but said they couldn't commit financially.

"Fox FM have always provided promotional and advertising backing rather than hard cash." Fellow director Deborah Pope said: "All our set-up costs have been paid for the season but it's the running costs that we can't meet.

"The ice hire costs around £1,300 per month and there are players' wages on top of that.

"The league have been informed and want us to hang on as long as we can, and most of the players have said they are willing to play for just basic expenses.

"But there is no more money and if major sponsorship isn't coming in by the weekend we will be forced to fold a winning team."

After the Blades' abysmal form last season, it has proved impossible to restore confidence and interest from sponsors and fans despite turning results around. This season Blades have won three and drawn one of their first nine matches.

Pope said: "Last weekend, we had a major leaflet campaign giving out 2,500 two-for-one ticket vouchers and 1,200 freebies to schoolchildren, but Sunday's crowd was pitifully small. On top of that, the rink now want ten per cent of our gate money and it's just not viable." Blades are due to host Isle of Wight on Sunday but that looks certain to be cancelled.

The rest of the ice hockey club will continue from under 19s downwards.

The Blades squad has already started to split up with Drew Chapman returning to Swindon and Sean Kelso joining Paisley Pirates. Canadian Kelso only joined Oxford last week and David Fielder joined them at the same time from Telford Timberwolves, who themselves had also just folded.

Mike Kellond, owner of top-of-the-league Swindon Chill, who moved the previous team out of Oxford when the rink ice plant failed, said: "I'm disappointed but not surprised. I voiced my concerns earlier in the season as to Oxford's ability to last the season."

Pope issued a plea, asking anyone who believes they can help to phone her on 01491 826396.

Story date: Thursday 14 October

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.