Following the culmination of the season; Edinburgh Capitals and Newcastle Vipers decided to resign from the BNL in order to join the premier EIHL. As this would leave the BNL with only five teams; and thus with little option but to fold, the Capitals and Vipers temporarily withdrew their applications so as to allow the remaining BNL teams to apply for EIHL status. However, terms could not be agreed between the EIHL and the remaining five BNL teams; leading the Capitals and Vipers to resubmit their original applications and join the EIHL; which ultimately resulted in the closure of the BNL. This led the Stingrays, along with fellow former BNL members Bracknell Bees and Guildford Flames, to move to the English Premier Ice Hockey League.