Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 4, 1992 TAG: 9202040241
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
1 REBELS SUITOR OUT OF RUNNING
At least one of the two parties that have made offers to buy the Roanoke Valley Rebels franchise from owner Henry Brabham will be turned down when the East Coast Hockey League board of governors votes today in Charlotte, N.C., one league club owner said Monday night.The owner, speaking on the condition his name not be used, said "there was no chance" the league board would approve the offer submitted to Brabham by a group headed by Nashville Knights owner Godfrey Wood.
"It won't be formally voted on until [today], but word got out today about it and every owner I talked to said that offer would be be turned down," the club owner said. "I can't tell you why. I just know it won't be approved."
Although the owner wouldn't speculate further, it is believed the offer from Wood's group, which includes Cincinnati Cyclones owners Ron Fuller and Doug Kirchhofer, will be nixed because the fourth-year league wants to steer away from dual ownership.
Brabham, who also owns the Johnstown, Pa., franchise, is the only current owner of more than one ECHL club. He couldn't be reached for comment Monday night.
A second $250,000 offer to buy the Rebels, made by former Greensboro Monarchs owner Bill Coffey, also is expected to be introduced and voted on by the board today.
Brabham said Sunday that he feared the Wood group would not be approved by the board. He refused to speculate on what he thought were the chances of the board approving Coffey's bid.
Brabham said Sunday that both bidders' plans included moving the Roanoke Valley franchise to Birmingham, Ala., for the 1992-93 season.
If neither of the two bids is approved, Brabham has said he will continue to search for a buyer.