NEW owners could be announced for the Newcastle Ice Hockey Superleague franchise in April, the league's chief executive has revealed.

Two bidders have already put their names forward to fill the gap left when Fablon Investments and its subsidiary European Sports Holdings were stripped of the Newcastle Jesters franchise last year.

The loss of the Tyneside team has left the ISL with only seven teams for this season and many fans have voiced disquiet about the entertainment value of the diminished league.

But the ISL has been advised by its solicitors it must advertise the franchise to ensure the process abides by European law, and that will be done on Wednesday.

An April 4 deadline has been set for bids and an ISL board meeting later that month will hear presentations from interested parties.

ISL chief executive Ian Taylor said: "If the right people are there and the board think they are the right people, then there is no reason that it (the franchise) can't be awarded in April."

That means the North-East fans will have the chance to catch ISL hockey in the 2002/3 season.

But the new owners will have a hard time convincing many fans to return to the Telewest Arena following years of uncertainty.

Read more about Newcastle Jesters here.