It appears that the Lewiston Maineiacs saga is about to come to some sort of conclusion.

Maineiacs majority owner Mark Just is finally saying enough is enough after posting losses for eight consecutive years, and is exploring selling, relocating or obtaining financing to keep the franchise in Maine.

“I have been trying to do everything that I possibly can to keep the team intact,” said Just in a press statement released Sunday evening. “All and every option is on the table, including selling to local investors or others, looking at relocation options, and/or seeking additional sources of funding within the state of Maine.”

A meeting was held with team staff and key support members including members of Lewy’s Legion on Sunday as they briefed on the status of the team as constant rumors of relocation have plagued the organization since January. There have even been reports recently as soon as this weekend that the Maineiacs would be dissolved by the league, setting the stage for Sherbrooke, Quebec to receive an expansion franchise.

The franchise, which arrived from Sherbrooke in 2003, has had financial losses approaching $4 million dollars, and Just along with minority owners Wendell Young and Paul Spellman are not prepared for another season of losing money.

“The franchise has very passionate fans and corporate partners,” the released noted. “As much as the organization values the support received over the years, it has not been enough to meet financial obligations without generous contributions from the ownership. The organization has reached the point where it cannot continue to operate under the fiscal conditions as they exist today.”

One option to keep the team in Lewiston is Portland Pirates Managing Owner and CEO Brian Petrovek, who has indicated interest in purchasing the franchise if the right opportunity arose.

“Brian has expressed interest to me in an ownership position under certain circumstances,” Spellman said by email on Sunday. “However, he has not been fully engaged in those conversations until very recently so he needs time. He wants the Maineiacs to be successful and viable and will be disappointed if the team leaves Lewiston.”

“If an opportunity arises (to purchase the Maineiacs), we’d certainly have to examine it,” said Petrovek earlier this week

Prior to this interest, both Petrovek and Spellman acknowledge that both sides have spoken in regards to forming a partnership to combine sales and marketing of two franchises.

“Brian and I have been exploring the possibility of combining some sales and marketing functions as well as discussing whether or not there are ways we could reduce some operating costs that don’t necessarily contribute to the fan experience and growing our fan base,” said Spellman. “Those are our most pressing needs.”

“We’ve had interest from the beginning about a relationship, and because (the Pirates and Maineiacs) both think it’s in our best interest to do that,” said Petrovek. “We both need to be healthy and strong and if that’s under separate ownership so be it. We’d find our own level and choose to invest in what we think would be appropriate.”

Being the lone QMJHL team in the United States have brought with it significant cost, certainly higher than their Canadian counterpart in terms of health insurance, education and immigration and it’s those cost that have really hampered the franchise from breaking even.

“As the only United States based team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, the organization incurs a higher level of expenditures for immigration, healthcare, and travel,” said Just in the statement. “As a result, the team is working toward finding solutions to reduce these costs and become profitable.”

“We cannot continue to lose money as the team has in the past eight seasons.”

This is not the team’s first attempt at trying to find a new home as they announced plans to relocate to Boisbriand, Quebec in 2009, but the move was eventually rejected by the Montreal Junior because Boisbriand was within their geographical territory.

After two years of poor attendance, the Maineiacs tried to re-energize the franchise with the hiring last summer of Team President and Governor Bill Schurman, but by January rumors began to sprout including a potential move to Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Those rumors failed to go away, in part, as a result of the team touring the Credit Union Place, a 4000+ seat facility, and as recently as last week media reports out of Atlantic Canada indicated that support for such a move was non-existent after a straw poll was taken by the league’s board of governors. The Maineiacs never filed an application of relocation to move to Summerside.

Shortly after the team released a statement, a report out of Halifax suggested that the QMJHL have placed a Tuesday deadline for the team to make a decision on relocation, selling the franchise or folding the team altogether.