No Steelers sale yet as Simon replaces Matsos

Steelers owner Bob Phillips put the 2009 league and play-off winners up for sale earlier this month, days after his management team walked out in a vote of no confidence.

Talks went on until late on Monday night with Convery acting as mediator but, he said last night, no agreement over a sale could be reached between Phillips and a consortium looking to take over the club.

With Phillips announcing on Wednesday morning that he had appointed former NHL player Ben Simon as the club's new player-coach, it appears the former Cardiff Devils owner is determined to plough on with preparing for the new season.

"Proposals put forward by the prospective buyers were not acceptable to the current owners," said Convery.

"The current owners have plans to rebuild and redevelop the club and I expect them to do that."

In a press release issued through the Elite League on behalf of the Steelers, Maraini Phillips, wife of the current owner, added: "We need to put behind us the events of recent weeks and we are looking forward to a fantastic 2010-11 season.

"There is a huge amount of work going on at the club in terms of recruiting players, planning marketing campaigns, developing the new website along with communication platforms and discussions with sponsors."

General manager Mike O'Connor, head coach Dave Matsos and press officer David Simms were among those who walked out of the club earlier this month.

Matsos, who guided Steelers to the league and play-off double in 2008-09 before a disappointing follow-up campaign, has quickly found himself alternative employment as assistant coach at Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League, one of three junior leagues for players aged 15-20 which make up the Canadian Hockey League.

Steelers' operating company, Yorkshire Sport Ltd, went into liquidation back in May.

New coach Simon, who last season chiefly played in the American Hockey League with Toronto Marlies, said he would be contacting all of the current Steelers roster over the next 48 hours to gather their thoughts.

"From there, we will figure out the best course of action for the team going forward," said Simon.

""This season we are going to be a fun team to watch. I want the fans in Sheffield to be excited when they come to the arena because they know it's going to be a great game of hockey. One thing I will promise is that this team will give 100 percent every time they touch the ice."

HULL STINGRAYS' owner Mike Pack said the club would move quickly to replace defenceman Stephen Burns who left the club earlier this week.

The 25-year-old was due to return for a second season with the East Yorkshire club next month but informed the club on Monday he would be pursuing his career elsewhere.

It was only last week that player-coach Sylvain Cloutier had completed his roster for the 2010-11 Elite League season, but isn't expected to have too much trouble finding a replacement for Burns, who posted four goals and 12 assists while accruing 105 penalty minutes in 63 games during the last campaign.

"It was a total surprise to us to get the notification from Stephen," admitted Pack.

"He was one of our key players last season, although I don't think he's the difference between success and failure.

"We've been here before, we've spoke to Sylvain - who was also surprised - and we are just as likely to go out and get a replacement defenceman who is even better."