A statement From Bob Phillips - Resignation!

[Jarv]

Dunno about anyone else i'm sick of the whole debacle and i don't think anyone on either side has come out with any credibility.

Someone is obviously feeding Bob W with stories and eventually it will come out and that person who ever they are will have proven they don't care about the club at all if they are willing to carry on and create the divide amongst the fans and almost destroy the club.

[howeaboutthat]

There's not a fan of any team in the league that could blame the supporters for this mess.

Some of the clubs problems undoubtably come from lack of funds, which was not exactly helped by Steeler fans who, fed a diet of 'success at all costs' hockey, decided to stay away when the money started to run dry and the wins fade with it.

So yes (fickle) supporters should shoulder a small, but not insignificant in the scheme of things, part of the 'blame'.

The Steeler fans I feel most sorry for are those walk-up sales regulars who stayed loyal and kept paying week after week last season hoping a corner would be turned eventually. Their patience was rewarded a little by some good late season performances, especially the Ron Shudra game demolition of the team I follow, but this whole sorry mess the Steelers are once again wading through must surely be making them think "why did I bother?"

[ajo]

Maybe Mr black might want to buy the club, then he might win the league

[howeaboutthat]

Maybe Mr black might want to buy the club, then he might win the league

He already owns one and two bits of teams (if the rumours are to be believed about Hull). It'd probably be cheaper for him to buy the league, as in the "I'm going to purchase EIHL Ltd," rather than the Sheffield Steelers 'keep spending to win then liquidate' approach.

[Stewart]

There's not a fan of any team in the league that could blame the supporters for this mess.

Some of the clubs problems undoubtably come from lack of funds, which was not exactly helped by Steeler fans who, fed a diet of 'success at all costs' hockey, decided to stay away when the money started to run dry and the wins fade with it.

So yes (fickle) supporters should shoulder a small, but not insignificant in the scheme of things, part of the 'blame'.

The Steeler fans I feel most sorry for are those walk-up sales regulars who stayed loyal and kept paying week after week last season hoping a corner would be turned eventually. Their patience was rewarded a little by some good late season performances, especially the Ron Shudra game demolition of the team I follow, but this whole sorry mess the Steelers are once again wading through must surely be making them think "why did I bother?"

We didn't all stay away because the wins dried up. Some stayed away because the Hockey was Rubbish!

[vinny19]

i really dont think it should matter if you feel the hockey got rubbish.At the end of the day if your a steelers fan u turn up and support the team.Its about taking the rough with the smooth we cant win all the time.We have had a lot of success over recent years and i have loved supporting the steelers no matter what.Real fans turn up regardless.Take leeds united different sport but man they went down to the duldrums and stayed there but still managed massive crowds.As for this season the steelers are looking great at the moment and we still have roster space left.We have one of the best defensive units in the league and forwards that are fast strong and can put the puck in the net.Its gonna be a great year and another year in which we demolish the panthers.Last year was just a blip.

[howeaboutthat]

Stewart - Having read a lot of what you write and occassionaly conversed with you I wouldn't dream of counting you as a win-driven fan. Hell you were staying away when the double rolled in so you can't be accused of such fickleness at all.

Come to Panthers one night, I'll get you a beer.

[Gemini]

People in glass houses must remember not to throw stones. If its about spending money to try and win I don't think it is the Steelers that folk should be looking at. Some owners have more money than others and have a better business plan ,hence don't end up in liquidation. Sound business plans include efficient management, PR and sponsorship. Also arena's based in city centres attract fans. All in all, theses aspects should contribute to a successful team.

However on saying all that that.............some clubs just don't seem to be able to win the league at any cost, including good business plans. This must be very disappointing and frustrating for their fans over the years and years and years.

[Stoopy]

Dunno about anyone else i'm sick of the whole debacle and i don't think anyone on either side has come out with any credibility.

Someone is obviously feeding Bob W with stories and eventually it will come out and that person who ever they are will have proven they don't care about the club at all if they are willing to carry on and create the divide amongst the fans and almost destroy the club.

Well Jarv, as the vast majority of "stories" are critical of the old management team that doesn't need rocket science to suss that one out.

All the stories related to the owner have been given by him or the company's representatives, so that one also doesn't require a great deal of thought.

The rest, I would imagine is good journalistic expertise by Bob W, and a bit of cold calling to "interested" individuals. "Simples", as a certain long nosed animal would say.

Brian

[Doom]

Well Jarv, as the vast majority of "stories" are critical of the old management team that doesn't need rocket science to suss that one out.

I'm not sure I've seen one story from Bob W that's critical of the old management team, most of them seem to be nothing stories aimed at Bob P.

[Stewart]

i really dont think it should matter if you feel the hockey got rubbish.At the end of the day if your a steelers fan u turn up and support the team.Its about taking the rough with the smooth we cant win all the time.We have had a lot of success over recent years and i have loved supporting the steelers no matter what.

You are confusing winning with good Hockey! I don't overly care if the Steelers win. although it is a nice bonus, I want to see decent Hockey and under Dave Matsos that wasn't forthcoming. As for being a Steelers fan, I am primarily a Hockey fan who supports the Steelers. I watched Hockey before the Steelers existed and the way things are going I will probably be watching Hockey after they have gone!

Real fans turn up regardless.

OK I give up! Your the REAL thing!

As for this season the steelers are looking great at the moment and we still have roster space left.We have one of the best defensive units in the league and forwards that are fast strong and can put the puck in the net.Its gonna be a great year and another year in which we demolish the panthers.Last year was just a blip.

Are you David Simms with an anonymous user name? Why does it matter so much whether we "demolish" the Panthers? They are just another team in the League, albeit one that has given us some of our best games. As for the Steelers looking great, how do you know that they haven't even iced yet! For me the only apparent improvement over last season is the signing of Ben Simon. If he coaches as he played then things should look up but as yet he's untested!

[Stewart]

Well Jarv, as the vast majority of "stories" are critical of the old management team that doesn't need rocket science to suss that one out.

I'm not sure I've seen one story from Bob W that's critical of the old management team, most of them seem to be nothing stories aimed at Bob P.

That's what I was thinking!

[Stewart]

One possible positive from all this is that even the die-hard anti-Bob Cardiff fans are saying good things on THF about Maraini and her work ethic.

[Borussia10]

Well Jarv, as the vast majority of "stories" are critical of the old management team that doesn't need rocket science to suss that one out.

I'm not sure I've seen one story from Bob W that's critical of the old management team, most of them seem to be nothing stories aimed at Bob P.

Me too, I must have missed something for the last 4 weeks?

[Boris Bluebird]

However on saying all that that.............some clubs just don't seem to be able to win the league at any cost, including good business plans. This must be very disappointing and frustrating for their fans over the years and years and years.

And yet their fans are still there, and if anything their attendances are increasing year after year.

Compare that with Sheffield - who despite being succesful over the same period have seen their attendances drop and drop.

It could be argued that of the 8000 fans Sheffield used to attract, the 3000 or so that remain are the ones who are only interested in winning.
Some fans (like Stewart) have been lost due to the lack of entertainment - and it might be possible to get them back with a new style of hockey.
But speaking from experience in Cardiff - I think several thousands of Steelers fans have been lost due to the instability of the club lurching from one crisis to another.
A lot of people can't be bothered with the hassle of not knowing what is going to happen each season. Once that season ticket renewal form isn't sent back it's very hard to get them back into the game. I used to sit next to someone who was a season ticket holder in Cardiff for over a decade - and each season they would renew their season ticket out of habit.
As soon as there were financial worries they delayed in renewing, then never did and have been to only a handful of games in the past couple of years.

Going on the Devils history - the uncertainty of the club is never likely to go away whilst the Phillips' are in control. Our attendances stagnated during their reign with people unwilling to pay all that money for a season ticket upfront.
Three years on since the sale and we are now looking at the highest season ticket sales since before Bob took over the club.