Steelers Seek Answers (From This Is Lancashire)

Steelers Seek Answers

8:15pm Friday 29th January 2010 in

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SHEFFIELD Steelers' owner Bob Phillips has accused some of his fellow Elite League clubs of failing to adhere to set Salary Cap levels in this season's Elite League – putting the reigning champions at a disadvantage.

His vociferous comments came after his side's 5-2 home loss to Hull last weekend.

“In the summer we played by the rules and to some extent that has hurt us this season,” he said. “As a league we all agreed the penalties for breaking the cap were so harsh that we had no option but to abide the board's decision for the benefit of the league and all member clubs.

“As we are now all aware, the cap isn't being enforced by the league so we have been left out on a limb.

“In saying that, clubs like Hull, Edinburgh and Newcastle have all managed to inflict defeat on us playing to a Salary Cap considerably below ours.”

Phillips points to “injuries and initial salary cap restrictions” as reasons behind Sheffield's poor form this season and says he has some “difficult decisions to make in the coming days and weeks.”

He continues: “I don't want you to think that we haven't tried to rectify this problem because we have worked around the clock to do so. We have signed new players only for them to get injured hours before they jumped on a plane to come over here. We have agreed terms with some high end players only for more lucrative deals to be placed before them at the 11th hour.

“In many ways I would dearly love to share with you everything that is going on behind the scenes as we try and rectify this situation but as you can appreciate I can't.”

He also states he will speak to Mike O'Connor and coach David Matsos to find answers to “the most embarrassing position the Sheffield Steelers have found themselves in their 18 year history”.