BISON officials will meet with Planet Ice bosses today to discuss the team’s future after the players took to the ice on Saturday despite not being paid last week.

Owner Tomas Enerston failed to turn up to pay the players’ wages last Wednesday, was absent from a co-owners meeting he called the following night and was not seen at Saturday’s game against Edinburgh Capitals.

The lack of payment proved to be the final straw for team captain Brad Cruikshank, who left the club a week early having been set to play his farewell home game against Edinburgh.

The latest developments at the Basingstoke Arena have left a bitter taste in the mouths of the fans of Basingstoke’s best-supported sports club, in what is their 20th anniversary season.

The supporters will now be hoping that today’s meeting between Bison officials and bosses at Planet Ice, which runs the Basingstoke Arena, will make the team’s future clearer.

Despite not being paid, the Herd players did not disappoint a 1,000-plus crowd on Saturday night, as they took to the ice and produced a superb performance to beat visiting Edinburgh Capitals 7-2.

The Bison faithful showed their appreciation of the team’s efforts in these difficult times with a standing ovation as they skated off after their victory.

It was the club’s third win in four games and the Herd are now starting to climb up the Elite League standings.

Basingstoke player/coach Eric Braff, who has been in charge for just a fortnight, admitted it had been another roller coaster week.

He said: “This has been a very busy week with all that has been happening.

“None of the players got paid, but we held a meeting on Friday before the game and decided to play.

“We are professional sportsmen and it is hard to put to the back of your mind what is going on, but after the victory I can say it was a great all-round team performance.

“Thanks must go to the fans for their support and all that they are doing behind the scenes for the team.”

The game was set to be Brad Cruikshank’s last home clash for the Bison, but with the uncertainty surrounding the team, he decided to join the Sheffield Steelers a week early and played in their 3-3 tie with Belfast on Saturday night.

Talking before he headed north to Sheffield, Cruikshank said: “It hurts me to not be playing on Saturday, as I was really looking forward to it and wanted to say my goodbyes.”

He added: “But I felt I had no choice and I hope the fans who have been great to me understand.

“Sometimes your family comes ahead of what you want to do and I owe it to my wife and young son.”

His wife Jami and son Coeden were at the Bison game on Saturday night.