BOLTON'S ice hockey fans have been given the choice of becoming owners of their own top-flight club - or see the sport disappear forever in the region.

An ambitious business plan drawn up by the Friends of Manchester Ice Hockey (FOMIH)will see an 'investment scheme' allow fans to part-own the new club through a series of membership deals that will help cover the annual running costs of £1.2m.

Since the demise of Manchester Storm last November, the group have liased with both the Manchester Arena and local businesses to secure a place to play and sponsorship of a new team to the tune of £100,000. Businesses, however, want to see the level of support before putting pen to paper - and time is running out.

"It's do or die time now," said FOMIH spokesman Neil Morris. "We have about three or four weeks to finalise everything. If this plan does not work, then we won't see hockey in the region again. Once the momentum has been lost, you can never get it back."

He believes, though, that the supporters will come up with the goods. "We only need to raise £50,000 through fans' investments. The rest is being matched through potential sponsors who are very keen to see this go ahead."

Morris is adamant that this is no begging bowl, either. "This is not about bailing out a failing club, but being a long-term investor in a new, vibrant one. I believe that any investor will see a return of 9 per cent per annum on their initial outlay. There are not many places where you wil see that level of confidence at the moment, but that is how much I believe in it."