KHL Chaos - TBC

AIK has had a members meeting to decide if KHL is the way to go or if the club should stay in the Swedish system and fight a losing battle to survive.

The meeting, attended by 200 odd supporters, voted in favour of KHL, but with the proviso that the board should investigate the actualities in more detail before another meeting will take place where the final decision will be made. This meeting will only be scheduled once the Swedish Ice Hockey Association has had a meeting to decide if AIK will be allowed to enter a foreign league.None of these meetings have been officially scheduled yet.

There are some major complications occurring due to this non-decision. KHL wants a final answer be April 1 for entry to the 20010/11 season. Qualification to the Swedish Elite League, through Kvalserien, starts in the later half of March. AIK has already budgeted for participation in this and look like they will qualify for the competition. A representative of the national association has however made a statement saying AIK will have to play in Sweden next year if entering Kvalserien.

So, what did we decide again?

I find it strange that the AIK members have given these I-will-but-I-won't messages to the world. It would have made much more sense to say nothing and await the more detailed study to be made by the board, or a clear Yes or No. This leaves the Swedish Association unable to make a decision in the question as they do not know what AIK's application to KHL would entail, KHL has been clear from the beginning in stating the deadline for an application (oh yes, AIK would have to apply to see if they actually fulfil the criteria set out by KHL, so an application is no guarantee), but are now facing requests from AIK to push back this deadline so the club can try to qualify for the Elite League. Talk about aksing to marry your girlfriend, on the proviso that you can hook up with you ex for a week long shag-fest. If she gets preganant you might go with her instead. Fair enough!

AIK has put themselves in a very precarious position and I am unsure who will make the first move. Something will have to happen before March 21, so story to be continued.