Owner Darryl Illingworth in-sisted today Newcastle Vipers had no choice but to quit a "rudderless" British National League. The Vipers, who enjoyed a four-point weekend on the ice with victories over Bracknell Bees and Fife Flyers, have sensationally resigned from the BNL and applied to join the Elite League. And Illingworth believes it is the only way forward for the club given the lack of direction from the seven-team BNL. The club are preparing a letter of intent to the Elite League, having met officials last Tuesday for preliminary talks on membership. Should they be accepted Newcastle will complete the season in the BNL, which has this year involved games against Elite League opposition in a crossover competition, before moving up next year when they will face the likes of Sheffield Steelers and Nottingham Panthers week in, week out. Edinburgh Capitals have also quit the league, which no longer has a main sponsor. Illingworth said: "We've resigned from the BNL. I can't see any structure to it. I can't see how the BNL can go forward. It's a ship without a rudder. I've been very impressed with what the Elite League have to say. "We have the finances in place and being in the top league will help us attract sponsorship. "Also, our three biggest crowds of the season have been against Sheffield, Coventry and Cardiff. In the BNL we're playing teams that bring five or 10 people. "I know wages will have to go up, but not by a great amount. Our top-end players are as good as anything in the Elite League, but I know we would need to strengthen our bottom end." Illingworth (pictured below), added: "It won't overstretch the club and the way the team has performed on the ice - beating Coventry and Cardiff - has given me a lot of confidence. I'm excited about the future." Last night in a Winter Cup fixture the Vipers beat Fife 4-3 in overtime at the Arena, with Shaun Johnson scoring the winning goal five minutes into sudden-death overtime. Twenty-four hours earlier Newcastle beat BNL leaders Bracknell 2-1 at John Nike Way in the league, and now Rob Wilson's team have beaten the country's top three form teams in the space of three weeks. The Bees win followed victories over both Elite League leaders Coventry Blaze and second-placed Cardiff Devils. VIPERS: Johnson 2+1, Longstaff and Ruggles 1+0, Gallace 0+2, Beveridge, Weaver and Trumbley 0+1. | 
