James Bettauer the first Sheffield Steelers player to head through exit door as Elite League stars search for work

It follows yesterday's news that the 2020-21 Elite League season was to be further suspended with team owners agreeing that their early December start would not be possible with the current government Covid-19 social distancing rules in place.

There remains a hope that those restrictions will be eased at some time with a number of EIHL clubs hoping to put some sort of competition together as late as January or February next year, although Fife Flyers and Dundee Stars have already ruled themselves out of any action until 2021-22.

Steelers' head coach Aaron Fox yesterday confirmed that a number of his players signed for 2020-21 had received offers, but Bettauer is the first to take up the opportunity to ply his trade elsewhere, although the door remains open for a return to South Yorkshire should the Steelers and however many of their rivals get back up and running.

News that Bettauer would be heading back to Germany - he joined the Steelers on a two-year deal from Krefeld Pinguine ahead of last season - could be the first of a number of exits as players strive to find employment in an already heavily-populated market while they wait for the UK top-flight to return, in whatever form.

It is not yet known which team Bettauer has reached agreement with, but a meeting for the DEL and DEL 2 is expected to take place next week when they will determine when and if their own season will start.

Part of Bettauer's deal saw him studying a two-year course at the University of Sheffield for an MBA, something he will complete online. Last season saw the two-way defenceman, who occasionally jumped in to play forward, post seven points, including four goals, in 27 appearances before the season was brought to an abrupt end through coronavirus.

“An agreement is in place for James to head back to play in Germany," said Fox. "The club is honouring the second year of schooling at the University of Sheffield and he will finish his MBA course online. It was important we could arrange this and thank the University for their assistance.

“We are still hopeful to start here back again in January/February and there’s still an option to bring James back to Sheffield if that’s the case. I’m presently looking at options to help as many of our players as possible at this difficult time.

“There have been a couple of our other guys who have had opportunities at this stage, but they just didn’t like that particular job that was available. It is always going to just depend on what each guy is looking for and if they are willing to wait it out or go.

“There might be some guys who want to wait until November or December and see where things are at here and if our league ever, officially gets cancelled.

“It’s never easy, especially for the players. They are the ones who are really struggling until next August or September, waiting and trying to find something else to do. There are not a lot of jobs available.”

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.