SOUTHAMPTON’S former ice hockey team The Vikings are backing plans for a permanent rink in the city centre.

Players from the team, whose last home match was at the Top Rank rink 20 years ago, returned to skate in the city with a reunion on Southampton’s winter ice rink in front of the Civic Centre.

Around a dozen players from the team strapped on their skates for the reunion and to show their support for a permanent ice rink facility in Southampton.

As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, see right, dreams for an ice complex in the heart of the city could be reconsidered after a multi-million pound council land deal with a housing developer collapsed due to the credit crunch.

Colin Warburg, who last year unveiled his plans to build an £80m Olympic size rink and 28-storey apartment tower in St Mary’s Road, off the Charlotte Place roundabout, is now eager to hold talks with the council.

Before the former rink was closed, the Southampton Vikings had a huge following, with hundreds of spectators filling the 1,200-capacity ice rink during home matches. Among the team’s historical highlights was the winning of the British League Division One title in 1984 when they were promoted for one season into the ice hockey Premier League.

Members of the team joined forces with figure skaters in Southampton to collect around 5,000 signatures and hold a protest in the city earlier this year to mark the 20-year anniversary since the old rink at Banister Park was knocked down.

Now players say the plans could be the way forward to bring ice hockey back to Southampton.

Former Southampton Vikings players Nick Drew, 47, said: “I would love to think there could be another ice rink and hope it will happen.

“In the current economic climate it is going to be difficult. You just have to see everyone enjoying themselves on the temporary ice rink to see how popular it would be.”

Former coach Tony Highmore, 68, a retired mechanic from Hedge End also took to the rink. He learnt to play with the Viking Junior team in 1956, and gave his backing for a new home for ice hockey in the city.

“All of the guys in the team are like my sons. We used to travel all around the country playing games,” he added.

Councillor Jeremy Moulton, Cabinet member for resources, said: “The council is disappointed that the developer has now decided that this site no longer fits within their business model.

“We are now looking at all options and will make an announcement once these have been fully considered and evaluated.”

The Tory Cabinet will consider a report on what to do with the plot at the end of January.