THE race is on to get Altrincham's new ice rink up and running by September.

Work officially started yesterday on the é2.5m facility, which will be the new home of Manchester Phoenix ice hockey club.

The state-of-the-art complex will also be a centre of excellence for all ice sports in Greater Manchester, as well as being open to people who just want to put their skates on and have fun.

Joint owners Neil Morris and Mike Petrouis symbolically turned the first spade of earth on the site, which is on part of the car park next to Altrincham Station and the leisure centre.

"This is a big moment for me and I have to say I'm excited," said Morris, who has been working for two years to find a permanent home for the Phoenix.

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"You don't actually believe it until you see the work begin and now it has. It is a great moment for ice sports in this region, it is a great moment for Manchester Phoenix and it is a great moment for the 386 kids we already have signed up for our junior development programme."

The ice rink will have seating for close to 3,000 people, plus a standing area of about 400 for hockey games. There will be a bar, restaurant and coffee shop, and skate hire facilities for public skating.

Morris and his team are hoping that work on the rink will be complete by September for the start of the new Elite League hockey season, but admitted it was a tight schedule.

"It has taken some time to get to this point, but we had to make sure we got it right," he added. "Now we have started, it will take shape very quickly."

The structure will have a five-year life span, during which time another ice rink will be built as part of the long term re-development of Altrincham town centre.

Meanwhile, Phoenix expect to announce the appointment of a new head coach within the next two weeks.

After extensive interviews, the choice has been narrowed down to three.

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