Ice bowl face-off

THE future of the Solway Sharks, one of the region’s most popular sports teams, is hanging in the balance following a total breakdown in relations between Dumfries and Galloway Council and the club's operators, DJR Sport Ltd. The local authority has confirmed it is pursuing court action to recover over £65,000 in unpaid debt. But the club’s owner John Strange has hit back, lodging a formal complaint against the council and citing a loss of key revenue streams. Dumfries and Galloway Council revealed that its contract with DJR Sport Ltd – the company behind the senior men’s team – has ended and will not be renewed. The council alleges that the company defaulted on an agreed payment plan and failed to meet a final deadline last Friday. A council spokesperson stated that whilst they are "proud to support local sport", their primary duty is to "safeguard public funds". The statement read: "We have shown considerable patience over an extended period. "We have agreed to revised payments and made repeated efforts to resolve the matter. Despite giving assurances, the company has again failed to meet agreed commitments, which represents a material breach of contract." [caption id="attachment_68170" align="alignnone" width="680"]

The entrance to Dumfries Ice Bowl[/caption] The local authority has now barred the company from the Dumfries Ice Bowl, except for the removal of equipment and confirmed it will not enter into any future agreements with DJR Sport Ltd. Mr Strange is the sole director of DJR Sport Ltd following the resignations of co-owners Phil Reilly and David McCarroll in 2024. And he has rebuffed the council's claims in a counter-statement, the club expressed "extreme disappointment" and argued that the council’s narrative only presents "part of the picture". According to the club, the 2025–26 season was hit by operational hurdles imposed by the council, including the "complete loss of bar income" and a "prolonged period without practice ice" at the start of the season. Despite these challenges, the club claims to have paid over £89,000 to the council under the current arrangement. The statement read: “We have consistently sought a constructive and realistic discussion to resolve the position, taking into account what has actually occurred over the last season. We have lodged a formal complaint against D&G council.”