Tom Watkins targets clean sweep for Tigers

A flurry of summer signings – including GB international Jonathan Weaver and EIHL star Jason Silverthorn – have seen the club tagged as clear favourites for honours.

Hopes of a first league trophy in 26 years have also seen a surge in season ticket sales, with a 200 per cent rise in interest over previous seasons.

Watkins is, however, wary of a build-up of pressure as the new campaign approaches, and dismissed suggestions that his side could dominate the league.

He said: "We will be title contenders next season, but there are a lot of good teams in there, such as Guildford, Manchester and Basingstoke.

"They will all want to pile on the pressure for us, but we will face some excellent players and the EPL has improved a lot.

"We will be going for the league, play-offs and challenge cup, as they are our goals. It is never easy, though, and we won't be able to underestimate any team.

"We've spent quite a few years as the underdogs, so we know the top sides can be beaten."

Those arrivals at Telford Ice Rink will, however, mean a shift of expectations amongst the Tigers supporters, as they look to ease the long wait for silverware.

Watkins added: "At the start of every year we have a team meeting and I always tell them that our goal is to win the league. Our expectations, however, will be different, and in the past they have been to qualify for the play-offs. Last season, we did that.

"This year, our goal is to win the league and our expectations are to win the league. Both are closely linked and now it is very different. The new season will be very exciting."

The summer rebuilding process has not just been restricted to on-ice activities, with new offices, refurbished changing rooms and a sports lounge at Telford Ice Rink.

Those facilities have been developed to build a sustainable base for the club, as it looks to secure longer-term success.

"The bigger the club gets, the more opportunities there will be for players to enjoy better facilities," Watkins said.

"The sports lounge for example, is really important, as it gives the players a chance to meet the fans. They are a major part of any club.

"When people go in there and see the logo, with the past players' photos on the wall, it reignites some of the history.

"It will be great to see that. I played with some of them when I was here before and to see their photos hanging on the wall is really important.

"The Tigers brand is growing and as a team we have improved massively. Everything around it is moving forward really well."

The Tigers return to action on August 30th (Saturday), when they play host to Sheffield Steeldogs in the Bradfield Brewery Cup (3.45pm), before the corresponding fixture at Ice Sheffield the next day.

An encounter with Milton Keynes Lightning will round off the club's pre-season programme on September 10th (7.30pm), with the EPL season due to start on September 13th/14th.