Mike Loomis insists he wasn't looking to run a football team when he pushed the Fort Wayne Freedom into receivership earlier this year over $28,000 in overdue legal fees. He just wanted to practice law - and be paid accordingly.

But when the Fort Wayne attorney emerged Thursday as the potential face of a franchise that made it to the Continental Indoor Football League championship game last season despite a cash shortage that canceled practices and threatened games, it signaled the rebirth of a sport rich in potential as it is poor in image.

That's the plan, at least.

“We've been doing our homework, and think the team can be wildly successful because there is a demand (for indoor football),” said Loomis, whose bid to acquire the team received a boost Thursday when the Memorial Coliseum's board agreed to negotiate a lease with his group for season expected to begin in March. Loomis said his group has developed an ownership plan based on sound business principles, and expects to keep and create fans by lowering ticket prices and selecting a new team name to signal a break with the franchise's often-tumultuous past.

Should Allen Circuit Court and receiver Kent Litchen approve the team's transfer from primary owners Bill Fahlsing and Mark Chappuis to Loomis' group, the Freedom's outstanding debts and legal problems should be resolved, Loomis said. Businessman John Christner is also a member of the new ownership group, Loomis added.

Coliseum attorney William Fishering said the board's willingness to negotiate a lease was needed before Loomis' group could move forward with the league. “We assume (approval by the court) is only a technicality,” he said, adding that a letter of credit of up to $15,000 could be required.

“We hope this is successful and creates a framework for the team to be successful for years to come,” added Coliseum General Manager Randy Brown.

As The News-Sentinel first reported in April, Judge Tom Felts on March 12 responded to Loomis' $28,000 claim by appointing local attorney Litchen as receiver and directing him “for the benefit of creditors” to identify and protect the team's assets and to deal with its liabilities “in a prudent, timely and rational manner.” Nor was Loomis' the first claim against the team. Former Coach Eddie Brown had sued previous owner Todd Ellis for unpaid wages.

Brown said at the time the coliseum would hold ticket receipts in escrow until directed by Litchen to disperse them. Freedom players and coaches often worked without pay last year, and owners appealed to the public for the money needed to travel to road games.

Even so, the team made it all the way to last season's championship game in Chicago, losing to the Slaughter 58-48.

Loomis wants to keep the athletic success while building credibility off the field. “We're excited, and want to be a good community neighbor,” he said.