MANCHESTER Storm's general manager and coach, Kurt Kleinendorst, breathed a sigh of relief at the end of the season on Saturday.

The team that faced the Sheffield Steelers in the third and fourth place championship play-offs bore no resemblance to the polished outfit that took Europe by storm, that finished a proud second in the Superleague and achieved an astonishing 16-game unbeaten run.

The Steelers seized immediately on the weaknesses of the battle-weary, injury stricken Storm, who eventually conceded a 5-2 defeat to their arch rivals from across the Pennines.

Kurt Kleinendorst will begin discussions immediately regarding the player line-up for next season and has already secured the return of four key players.

The Storm will once again benefit from the combined talents of Kris Miller, Brad Rubachuk, Jeff Tomlinson and Stefan Ketola.

Although all the players contracts will be renegotiated, Kleinendorst has indicated that there will be minimal change:

"We need size and muscle up front. We have plenty of polish and guys who can score goals but we have to put defence first. I want some defencemen who can play defence first, with bigger size who can pass the puck and play a transition game. I would also like to see a few more guys with European experience and possibly players here from other British teams." ?

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