The club's general manager is adamant that the Giants acted above board in their dealings with the duo, who moved to Belfast last week.

Lyle and Campbell left Bison after the club hit financial difficulties, meaning that they had to lose players and that's when Ed Courtenay stepped in, allowing Philippe DeRouville and Ryan Smith to leave in the process.

Basingstoke, however, claim that they have made it known to the Elite League that three clubs made offers to their players.

They even went as far as to name the Belfast Giants in connection to an offer made to Campbell and also stated that Lyle asked for his release so that he too could take up an offer from the Giants.

"This is a dead issue as far as we as a team are concerned," said Kelman.

"That is how it should remain."

Basingstoke have also been accused of trying to deflect the spotlight off themselves, as despite what they say the club's financial affairs are putting their future in the Elite League in doubt.

A positive for the Giants is the fact that Lyle and Campbell have had immediate impacts in Belfast.

Canadian forward Campbell scored twice on his debut for the Giants, ironically against the Bison last Thursday night in a comfortable 5-3 win.

Great Britain international goaltender Lyle was voted as the Giants man-of-the-match in that game even after conceding three goals and he took that honour again 48 hours later when the Giants took on the Bison in a return game.

Courtenay will take his team on their travels again this weekend, but this time it will only be down the road, as far as Dundalk.

Manchester Phoenix, under the leadership of former Giants coach Tony Hand, are the visitors to the Louth venue.

Saturday's game will be the second of four home games that have been moved away from the Odyssey this season, with the others in January and the final home league game of the season in March.

They have got the better of the Giants in both meetings between the sides this season and Courtenay will out to make a start at evening the score against his former Sheffield Steelers and Ayr Scottish Eagles team-mate.

Back-to-back wins against the Bison - making it three wins in four games - have taken the Giants to seventh place in the Elite League table.

They only have one game this weekend, but a victory and other results going for them could see Courtenay's team move into the top half of the table for the first time this season after making a nightmare start to the campaign, with just five wins in 15 games so far.