Head coach Moran not banking on Slough Jets making this season's play-offs

Jets' head coach Craig Moran admits the team chances of making this year’s play-offs don’t look good, but he hasn’t written off their hopes just yet.

The Jets are languishing in ninth position, with 34 points, six points adrift of eighth-placed Swindon Wildcats, and nine behind BracknellBees, with only eight clubs able to progress to the end of season championships.

Their hopes were dealt a double blow at the weekend by defeats to Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday, and at Basingstoke Bison on Sunday, and Moran admits the intensity of hockey at this level is catching up with some of his weary young players. They were also without Ales Padelek for the games after he damaged his ribs against Swindon a few weeks ago. Moran hopes he’ll be fit to take part in this weekend’s games against Guildford at the Hangar today (Saturday), and at Peterborough on Sunday.

“We can still do it but it doesn’t look that good,” said Moran. “It’s going to be difficult now.Bracknell are nine points ahead, although we have a few games in hand on them.It’s possible to do but we also have a very tough run in. “I haven’t written it off, but it’s looking very hard.”

Moran added that his young players were fatigued.

“Everyone is physically tired,” he said. “I’ve got a short bench and the players aren’t used to playing this many games. It’s taking its toll and physically they can’t   really do what we need them to do.

“But we’ll continue to play and try to win, and we’ll build for next season in the summer. Hopefully Ales will be back this weekend, we definitely missed him against Sheffield and Basingstoke last weekend.”