APRIL:
Steelers owner
Darren Brown completed the takeover of Westfield Sharks last night, signing an
undisclosed package to assume sole control of the club. The 28 year old sports
magnate, who was also unveiled as new boss of Chesterfield FC this week.
Steelers kept
their most important close season promise today, by re-signing the man who puts
the backbone into the team. Muscleman Dennis Vial wanted by teams across the
world, agreed a new one-year-deal with the Steelers.
Mike Blaisdell, the new Head Coach inherited Don McKee's side
when he took over and, frankly, he did not like it.
He wanted defence and toughness and so set about re-building.
MAY:
Ed Courtenay
quits the Steelers. Blaisdell prepared to offer long-time target Rick Brebant
assistant coach's role to lure him to Steelers. We'll dish dosh to keep Bish-Bosh!
Steelers break own rules to offer McCosh extended deal.
Ed Courtenay
dropped the gloves to launch a savage attack on Sheffield Steelers bosses David
Simms and Mike Blaisdell. The Ayr bound winger is furious that Sheffield have
publicly justified their actions in refusing him a two year deal by blaming
salary demands and unreasonable conditions.
Steelers
announce the signing of Steve Carpenter from Nottingham Panthers and two great
signings: Rick Brebant from Manchester Storm, and Steve Roberts from Nottingham
Panthers.
They also
pulled off a spectacular signing coup today by landing former NHL goalie Mike
O'Neill.
Sports Boss
Darren Brown resurrected the spectre of building a new purpose-built stadium for
both Steelers and Sharks. The businessman may jet to America to study proposals
by a company to erect a building for both parties. It is a plan for a minimum
6,500 seater, first thought off in the early days of Steelers, under Ronnie
Wood.
JUNE:
Thanks for all
the memories say sacked skipper Rob Wilson. After six seasons patrolling the
Arena blue line, Wilson was deeply hurt by his release in favour of a younger
defence.
Veteran ice
hockey Scott Metcalfe signed for the Steelers and they take a chance on Paul
Beraldo, the Canadian has a rocket shot and a tough aggressive streak says
Simms.
AUGUST:
The position
of backup goalie is going to Mike Torchia, a 28 year-old from Toronto.
A Sports
marketing firm which has acquired half of Newcastle Superleague ice hockey club
could buy Sheffield Steelers. The Eye Group, which describes itself as a sports
exploitation company, is poised to make a cash offer to Steelers owner Darren
Brown.
Steelers today
confirmed they had received a "very attractive offer" from a company wanting to
buy the club, it believed from Eye for £1,000,000 pounds.
A bitter row
broke out today after Sheffield International Venues locked Sheffield Steelers
personel out of their own merchandising store. Steelers now thought to be on an
even keel financially owe around £5,000 rent for the building opposite the
Sheffield Arena on Broughton.
Steelers
reject £1m offer believed from Eye.
A flu bug
dramatically depleted Sheffield Steelers ranks, and forces coach Mike Blaisdell
out of retirement. Only seven out of 18 players were able to practise last
night, after complaints of fever and diarrhoea. Blaisdell was quickly registered
and insured and wears the number 14 shirt. They finished up winning in Newcastle
5-4 with just eleven skaters
Steelers
release Brent Bobyck and Steve Roberts
DECEMBER:
Mike Torchia
had a rare cup final shutout as Steelers beat the Newcastle Jesters 4-0 in the
last ever Benson and Hedges final.
2001
JANUARY:
Angry Steeler owner Darren Brown has carpeted his managing director, over a
£5,000 payment to finance company, which was due to pursue a winding up order
against Steelers in court. Brown was furious when he discovered his accounts
department had not settled the relatively modest bill which was in danger of
bringing the club to its knees.
Bid to oust
sport tycoon Darren Brown he's been secretly asked to hand over running of
Sheffield Steelers ice hockey club. He has been dogged by a series of cash-flow
difficulties, including a threatened visit of bailiffs to Chesterfield FC over a
£49,000 tax bill. A long running saga over the payment of £150,000 soccer
transfer cash. Failure to pay ice hockey player on time. A 5,000 lottery prize
owed to fans.
The row over
the finances of sports tycoon Darren Brown rumbled on with ice hockey players
setting a deadline for possible strike action and football fans demanding real
answers. Steelers coach Mike Blaisdell has revealed how he fully supported his
players decision to threaten strike action against unpaid wages.
FEBRUARY:
Some of most
explosive scenes of violence seen in British ice hockey for years wrecked
Steelers latest bid to confirm new ownership of the league title last night.
Steelers were leading Nottingham 3-1 when aggro broke out on the ice. Barry
Nieckar’s cheap attack on Scott Allison on Boxing Day had to repaid and it was,
in full and with interest. With Nieckar pounding an almost unconscious Vial it
was David Longstaff who first appealed to Mike Blaisdell for permission to leave
the bench, his requests were declined, twice. Seconds later, Steelers cleared their bench,
storming into the middle of the ice, Panthers bench followed suit and every
player then took a sparring partner. Like a man possessed Scott Allison climbed
over the penalty box plexi glass to join in. At one stage it looked as if Vial
butted Nieckar. As a side show Scott Metcalfe beat up Chris Baxter and Adam
Smith did the same to David Struch. A glass pane was smashed alongside the
Steelers bench, slightly injuring a girl fan. Nottingham goalie Jordon Willis
later described the scene as "ridiculous, dangerous, barbaric".
Scott Allison famously was put in the
penalty box and ended up climbing the glass and jumping back onto the ice. One
fan grabbed the plexi glass and was going crazy, he pulled the glass back at the
same time as another Nottingham fan launched a coin in the direction of the
Steelers' bench, it missed everyone but smashed into the glass at a stretched
weak spot, it shattered everywhere.
When the dust settled, Steelers lost their poise along
with their goaltender, and the match, and Panthers came from 3-1 down to win 6-4
and prevent the chance to win the league on the night.
video
Record Ban:
Allison out for 14 games and fined £850. Vial out for 6 matches and fined £750,
Coach Blaisdell get 2 matches, and £500 fine after Friday violent scenes at
Nottingham Panthers.
Five cars
rented for Steelers players and staff were the subject of repossession action,
while the championship stars were training. The latest embarrassment for owner
Darren Brown came when a debt-collecting agent representing a car hire company
arrived at the Arena stadium. Now the players, who say they continue to play
only if they are paid on time, have decided to hit back at their management.
Steelers
players have discussed a fresh strike plan aimed at turning up the heat on owner
Darren Brown. But they decided against going ahead with a playing boycott after
an angry confrontation with their team manager and coach. Sheffield captain
Dennis Vial says the "feud" between players and ownership should end. "We should
just sit down and talk this out. On pay and bonuses, all the players want is
what they deserve, no more. We need to get on and play hockey".
MARCH:
In a crazy scheduling arrangement the
Steelers found themselves up against Ayr Scottish Eagles in the Challenge Cup
Final. The crucial go ahead goal by Ed Courtenay was marred by controversy but
Steelers went on to win 4-2.
Steelers would
have been stripped of their newly-won league title if their player had gone on
strike before Sunday's ISL regular season finale at Manchester Storm.
Steelers
tycoon Darren Brown faces a double threat to his empire over unpaid bills.
Sheffield Steelers are facing a fresh winding up order after failing to pay
programme printing costs and Chesterfield FC have been reported to the Football
League by Mansfield Town over £36,000 in unpaid ticket receipts.
Player Shayne
McCosh met potential new owner Andy Cooke following the squad's demand for
payment of £40,000 in bonuses by this afternoon , otherwise they would refuse to
play at Nottingham in tonight's Play-off match. Cooke offered a deal where two
bonuses would be paid today, totalling around £12,000, and two more of the same
amount this Friday.
Darren Brown's
dramatic decision to quit Sheffield Steelers today triggered a three-way fight
for Britain's best ice hockey franchise. Rotherham car firm owner Andy Cooke was
the afternoon meeting Steelers directors David Cox, David Brown, and Brian
Yates. The second candidate is Sid Butt of Woodhouse, who owns a meat
distribution centre in Scotland. The third is a secret consortium, which could
become the favourite.
APRIL
After defeating the
London Knights 2-1 in the play off final in Nottingham Steelers completed a true
grand slam - 4 titles - Benson & Hedges Cup, Challenge Cup, League Title and
Championship.
Ice Hockey's
Superleague appears to be attempting to hasten Steelers plunge into financial
liquidation. The grand slam club was fined £50,000 by Superleague because of
"total mis-management" at board level. For only the second time since the
league's inception the Standards Committee considered a charge of "bringing
discredit or harm upon another club or Superleague". They revealed that Steelers
had exceeded the wage cap by 37%.
The team had clicked so well that they lost
only seventeen of their games that season.
Dave Simms the
driving force behind Sheffield Steelers for 10 years, wants to step down from
his job as team manager. He has laid the ground for a return to the club for
Mike O'Connor, possibly as general manager, to properly run the club's
commercial affairs. The recruitment of O'Connor could be a significant boost to
Jenkinson and partner Andy Cook's bid to the Superleague to either buy the
franchise or continue it in its present form.
Martin
Jenkinson and Andy Cooke, supported by new general manager Mike O'Connor were
presenting their credentials to the Superleague board, hoping to be awarded the
ice hockey franchise.
Sheffield
Steelers ice hockey was due to be shut down by a judge today, leaving a long
list of unpaid bills in its wake. The company, which lurched into debts under
owner Darren Brown, declined to contest a winding up order brought by VAT
officials. The firm is now expected to be liquidated, with the franchise
reverting back to the Superleague which wants to sell it.
Darren Brown told the Star newspaper "The
commercial side was miles and miles away and we struggled to get sponsors
because the club had already gone bust once."
Fight for
Steelers turns ugly, Martin Jenkinson claimed he had "shaken hands" on a deal
with the ISL and that why he and fellow investors Andy Cooke and Martin Smith
had ploughed £180,000 into Steelers in the past few weeks.
AND ON TO NEXT
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