play-downs. In the 2005/06 season the regional north and east were combined to form the regional league North-East. Participating clubs were the neighbors EC Timmendorfer Strand and Adendorfer EC as well as the Rostock Piranhas, two representatives from Berlin, the ESC Leipzig, the Saale Bulls Halle and the EHV Schönheide. Due to the resulting additional travel costs, the budget was considerably burdened. Since the Crocodiles, in contrast to the top teams from Rostock and Leipzig, whose contract amounted to 780,000 and 1.2 million euros, respectively, had only a budget of 19,800 euros, the team finished last in the main round. In addition, since only one training ice rink was available, the Crocodiles were inferior to the semi-professionals from the other clubs. Nevertheless, the team ensured category retention in the play-downs, while the local rival Adendorfer EC had to descend for the first time in its history. Due to the lack of audience growth, the costs for this season were ultimately 30,000 euros higher than expected, so that the FTV voluntarily descended into the Federation League, together with the insolvent EC Timmendorfer Strand and the Adendorfer EC. After a bad start to the season with six defeats in a row, disputes within the team, and disagreements due to the change from playmaker Johan Pawletta to the local rival Hamburger SV, the Crocodiles finished the 2006/07 season in seventh place. However, the primary goal was not to achieve again financial losses. The spectator cut was 180 fans, with a total of 300 spectators being counted against the HSV, and 450 against Adendorf. Even though they could have climbed into the new Regional League North, the club finally abandoned the promotion for economic reasons. Powerful players such as Alexandre Santos, one of the top scorers of the league, Stefan Gebauer and goalkeepers Matthias Rieck and Guido Titzhoff left the Crocodiles and switched to the city rival Hamburger SV, which could compete in the higher-ranking regional league. In addition, Erich Dumpis joined the EHC Timmendorfer Strand 06. 2007–2010 In spite of the departures of the players, the team was able to win against nine teams in a row. Only in Salzgitter, Altona and Osterode the team were defeated after penalty shootouts. The first local derby after a long time rival Altonaer SV was won by the Crocodiles in Farmsen 7–2. The interest in the audience also rose again. Against the direct competitors around the