THE COMPLETION date for the Altrincham Ice Dome has been put back yet again.

Construction company Ice Associates announced this week that the 4,834sq metre temporary ice rink will not open until January 28, six months later than originally planned.

The delay is blamed on "unprecedented delays" on the delivery of critical elements of the structure by suppliers to the Station Approach site.

This is the second time the end date has been changed. When planning permission was granted in January it was expected the centre, which will include a 59m by 29m ice pad, would be ready by July. But in September this was put back to November 30.

Hundreds of ice hockey fans with season tickets to see the Manchester Phoenix play their home games at the rink will have to continue travelling further afield to see the team play.

Andy Costigan, general manager for the Phoenix, who previously described the November 30 completion date as a worse case scenario', said: "Whilst we're all shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, we cannot put into words what we feel for our long suffering and unbelievably resilient supporters.

"They have already gone above and beyond anything we could reasonably have expected and to now have to ask them to carry on travelling for another two months and slightly longer is something we never, ever dreamt would happen."

Neil Morris, managing director for the Phoenix, said: "This is a hammer blow to our organisation and hopes for this season.

"It's bad enough that we've got a competitive senior team who are training and playing every game on the road while we await our own facility, but we've also got three junior teams and all their support personnel and parents travelling to other rinks in order that they too can train and play games.

"More than anything, we want the youngsters of Manchester to have somewhere to take part in ice sports and activities and we have all been badly let down by this news."

Steve Rattle, managing director for Ice Associates said the company had been involved in "several fraught weeks of persistent wrangles" with the structure supplier and the final key elements are being delivered this week.

He said: "As main sponsors of the Phoenix it is particularly gruelling to have to keep the team on the road for this extra period.

"We sincerely hope that the fans will continue to support them through these bleak days and understand that everyone is fully committed to delivering them a new home at the earliest opportunity."

Devlopers nIce Leisure have been granted a five-year tenancy at the Moss Lane site by which time it is believed David McLean Nikal Ltd will have built a permanent rink on the land.