NEWCASTLE Vipers are expected to announce their membership of the Elite League at a press conference on Tuesday morning.

The club has called the press conference at a top Gateshead hotel, and it is understood a representative of a league, believed to be the EIHL, will be present for the announcement.

With the likelihood being low of an announcement at such a location with a league representative present just to confirm a fourth BNL season, it is almost certain that the club will be joining the Elite League, which has already offered an invitation to the Vipers.

It is believed that, with the return of the Manchester Phoenix and one other club stepping up from the BNL, the way would be paved for the likes of Milton Keynes and Peterborough to make their move into the British National League.

However, general manager Clyde Tuyl kept tight lipped in his post match press conference following the 6-2 home win over Fife Flyers last night.

He did, though, describe the win as "superb", praising David Longstaff and Jonathan Weaver's efforts in particular.

Of Longstaff, who took his tally to five goals in two matches, he said: "He's certainly stepped up, he's leading the charge right now. It's playoff hockey, he's playing playoff hockey and asserting himself as a team leader right now.

"Weaver's playing injured, but he's defending well, he's getting involved in the offence, he's playing his 30 to 35 minutes and doing a good job.

"To be successful, we need those kinds of performances from those kinds of guys."

Tuyl believed Fife's player coach Mark Morrison talked his players into not wanting to play the match, after raising concerns about the state of the rink before the match. Morrison's concerns reflect those stated by Mike Ellis, whose double winning Bracknell Bees side could only take a point from Hillheads on Sunday, and, in the more distant past, Kurt Kleinendorst, who brought a Manchester team to Whitley Bay a number of years ago and left stating he would never take a team there again.

Tyuyl said: "I think one of the issues that has probably helped us in this sense is that they talked themselves into trouble when they came into the rink. They were concerned about the state of the boards, the state of the ice and their coach really didn't want to play, and their players were talked into not wanting to play.

"Psychologically, they were their own worst enemy."

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