Ice Hockey: Future looks uncertain for Brebant

Rick Brebant, the under-pressure Newcastle Cobras coach, yesterday revealed he may not be in charge for tonight's Benson and Hedges Cup semi- final at home to Cardiff Devils.

Brebant is under fire following a disastrous run which has seen the Tyneside club lose eight of their last 10 games, including all seven opening matches in the Superleague. Cobras have a mountain to climb in the Newcastle Arena against Paul Heavey's Devils after losing the first leg 6-2 in the Icehouse last Saturday.

Brebant sounded as if he was facing the sack yesterday - despite previously pledging he would never walk out. Asked whether he would make a playing comeback and take to the ice to help Cobras out of their crisis, he said: "I don't know what I'm going to be doing any more." Then, asked whether he would be in charge tonight, Brebant replied: "I don't know. I don't want to say anything else. I'm fed up, very fed up."

Newcastle's season has fallen apart after a successful start to their Benson and Hedges campaign, when they won six and drew two of their 10 group matches to reach the quarter-finals. Only a 5-1 victory at Basingstoke Bison - after a 1-1 home draw in the first leg of the last-eight tie - managed to raise morale at the club.