DATE: Sunday, August 24, 1997               TAG: 9708240172

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C11  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: HARRY MINIUM

                                            LENGTH:   73 lines

ADMIRALS REPORT

Blake Cullen may be back in business with English team

NORFOLK - Former Hampton Roads Admirals owner Blake Cullen, who founded the team before selling it 15 months ago, has tentative plans to buy a hockey team in Birmingham, England.

The Birmingham Royals, as he hopes to call the team, would play in Icehockey Super League. The 10,000-seat NEC Center in Birmingham would be the home arena.

``The thing I really like is that it's the top league in Britain,'' Cullen said. ``It's the major hockey league there.''

Cullen says he is not yet committed to Birmingham. He will head to England in September for 10 days to meet with league and city officials and watch some games. He will return in November to start a three-month season-ticket sale and host an ISL game in early December in Birmingham.

``So far, everything likes like we'll go forward,'' Cullen said. But the ticket sale, exhibition and search for corporate sponsors flot, Cullen says: ``We'll pack it in and come home.''

Cullen founded the Admirals in 1989 in spite of the failure of four professional hockey franchises in the 1970s and 1980s in Hampton Roads. In eight seasons his Admirals won two championships and led all minor league hockey in attendance in 1991.

Admirals fire Susan Gary

The Admirals aren't saying why, but have fired long-time ticket manager Susan Gary.

Gary, who handled ticketing for Admirals fans from the team's first season in 1989-90, says she has been asked by Admirals' management to sign an agreement on Aug. 11 stating she resigned and will not to comment on her dismissal. If she does not sign the agreement, Gary says she has been told she will forfeit severance pay.

Gary, a single mother of two whose fiancee died in early May, acknowledges she needs the money, but added: ``I have no intention of signing that document, because it's not true.''

Admirals business manager Brian Kelley declined comment, saying the team doesn't speak to personnel matters.

Gary said she was told she was being terminated because she was often late to work and had a bad attitude. Gary told them she had never been reprimanded and that she was not guilty of either offense. Kelley, she said, stood over her as she cleaned out her desk.

``On the July 4th weekend, I was sitting at home in my bed, calling season-ticket holders,'' she said. ``Nobody ever said anything to me about coming in a few minutes after 8:30. They knew the hours I was working. I worked 80 hours a week during the season and 50 to 60 during the offseason.

``There were times when I disagreed with decisions they made, but I would voice those concerns in private. In public, I supported them 100 percent and they know that.

``I don't know why this happened, but I know it's not because of the reasons they gave me.''

Gary said the firing came shortly after the Admirals season-ticket sale surpassed the 3,200 mark last season. It ended four years of sales decline.

``I lost the two great loves of my life this year, one in May (her fiancee) and now my job with the Admirals,'' she said. ``I'm determined I will not lose contact with the many people I've gotten to know through the Admirals.''

Family friendly hockey

The Admirals have announced two moves they hope will improve the family atmosphere at home games - they have formed a new club for kids and plan public skating sessions after four Sunday evening games.

The kids club will be called ``Salty's Stars'' after the team's mascot, Salty Dog. For a $5 membership, members will receive a newsletter, gifts, a private ``meet the Admirals'' party and a free skating session with the Admirals. For information on the kids club, call 640-1212. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Blake Cullen

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