Sheffield Steelers owner Tony Smith frustrated by Elite League’s lack of control over start of 2020-21 season

SHEFFIELD STEELERS’ owner Tony Smith has admitted that the biggest frustration for him during the ongoing Covid-19 lockdown has been the fact that decisions on whether a 2020-21 Elite League season goes ahead are out of the control of himself and fellow team owners.
Sheffield Steelers cannot operate with sizeable crowds in the Elite League. Picture: Dean Woolley.Sheffield Steelers cannot operate with sizeable crowds in the Elite League. Picture: Dean Woolley.
Sheffield Steelers cannot operate with sizeable crowds in the Elite League. Picture: Dean Woolley.

Smith, who doubles as the EIHL’s chairman, has been party to discussions between the league and government officials in recent weeks and months over whether current social distancing rules can be eased in order to allow large enough crowds back in to watch games.

Put simply, without big enough crowds being allowed in to rinks to make it financially viable for all 10 EIHL teams to take part in a 2020-21, there will be no season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As it stands, the EIHL has pencilled in an early December start but the past couple of weeks has seen growing scepticism over whether there will be a campaign at all.

Sheffield Steelers' owner and ELite League chairmanTony Smith, right, with Steelers' head coach and GM, Aaron Fox. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.Sheffield Steelers' owner and ELite League chairmanTony Smith, right, with Steelers' head coach and GM, Aaron Fox. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.
Sheffield Steelers' owner and ELite League chairmanTony Smith, right, with Steelers' head coach and GM, Aaron Fox. Picture courtesy of Dean Woolley.

The league is scheduled to make a decision on the proposed December start on September 15, while another option being touted is to put the campaign back to February, a scenario unlikely to include all 10 teams and which could see the season go into June.

Smith has successfully run his own sportswear business for many years, took sole ownership of the Steelers over nine years ago and chairs an EIHL that is run and self-administered by the participating teams.

In short, he is used to making his own decisions, something denied him in terms of hockey because of the coronavirus crisis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The biggest frustration is that it is out of our control,” Smith told Steelers’ fans during a recent online Q&A last week.

“I’ve worked for myself and the family business for a long time and you get used to making your own decisions, controlling your own destiny, to a certain extent.

“But everything is out of our control right now, we have no say over what’s happening with social distancing.

“So we’re just waiting,. We’re ready to go whenever we’re told that we can go. We can play tomorrow, we’re an elite sport, but we can’t play tomorrow without crowds and it is the crowds that we need to survive.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.