The Pirate Bay looks set to come back online in just days, but reports from insiders say the site won't be the same. Many of the moderators and admins who once helped run the site apparently will not be returning, and will launch a new competing site instead.

The Pirate Bay looks ready to return to active duty on Feb.1, according to the countdown clock on the homepage of the site as well as a new report from insiders. The homepage now has a phoenix replacing the skull and crossbones pirate flag that was up for several weeks, indicating the site, like a phoenix, is set to rise from the ashes. The familiar search box returned recently along with working links to several affiliated sites, and the animation of a pirate ship reaching land is closer than ever to landing on shore.

It appears, however, that a mutiny is at hand by former Pirate Bay admins and moderators who have been told they will not be returning with a new, lighter version of the site. WTC-SWE, a leading Pirate Bay admin, stated "I wish I had better news to come with. The launch that is about to take place on February 1 is not us. It was until some dickhead decided to take TPB crew out of the picture. He thinks a site can be run without any staff at all and at the same time keeping up with fakes, internal issues etc."

He claims that most of the original crew, who have been working on the site for over a decade to remove fakes and malware and generally keep things running smoothly, have been dismissed. They plan to launch a competing site at a new domain using a full back-up. "It's only a matter of time. I will need to blast the whole coding and clean up all the mess. The real TPB will be back with proper staff and all," said WTC-SWE.

This new development only adds to the mystery behind the apparent comeback of The Pirate Bay on Feb.1. As former users anticipate its potential return, this new twist raises questions about the safety and reliability of the resurrected site.