Ice Hockey UK (IHUK) chairman Richard Grieveson addressed the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) Annual General Meeting in Nottingham about his plan earlier this month.

There was no formal decisions taken but there was enough support for the idea for Grieveson to announce he would set up a working group involving several stakeholders to investigate the next step.

"The response I had was very encouraging - I think this is the beginning of something very special,” Grieveson said.

"We need to develop proposals in a consultative way, to engage with stakeholders and to be open and transparent.

"There is still a long way to go but to see the support for this proposal in the room was fantastic."

Since taking over as IHUK chairman in February Grieveson has held talks with several bodies about establishing a single governing body. 

These include the EIHA, Scottish Ice Hockey Association, and the English Premier Ice Hockey League in a bid to try to establish one single body. 

"The key to this is the members, the people at the heart of British ice hockey," Grieveson said.

"If they back the change, then I will push forward the plans for one governing body."

Grieveson claims to have the support of International Ice Hockey Federation President René Fasel.

"What we have at the moment is broken and I think most people accept that, but we can move forward together," said Grieveson.

British ice hockey's greatest moment came at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen when they won the gold medal.

They finished fifth at St Moritz in 1948 but have not qualified since.

In the last two years they finished runners-up in Division I, Group B of the IIHF World Championships.

The women's team, meanwhile, have never qualified for the Olympic Games.

This year they finished third in Division IIA of the IIHF World Championships.