Simon has 'no worries' over Steelers' future

Simon was revealed on Wednesday as the successor to Dave Matsos, who was part of a management walkout earlier this month made in a vote of no confidence in Steelers' owner Bob Phillips.

In May, Steelers' operating company Yorkshire Sport (YS) went into liquidation but the club effectively continued as normal, re-signing players from the disappointing 2009-10 season, as well as bringing in a handful of new faces.

Matsos's resignation, alongside four other members of staff, including general manager Mike O'Connor, came days before Phillips put the club up for sale.

But the club was taken off the market earlier this week after Phillips said no suitable bids were made, although at least one consortium is known to be still keen on taking over.

Phillips last night resigned as non-executive chairman of Steelers, handing over control to his wife Maraini, who will also become the new GM.

The Welshman claims the move is necessary for him to concentrate on contesting legal action which is expected to be taken against him in connection with the liquidation of a previous ice hockey-related company five years ago.

But despite the changes and the recent off-ice turmoil that has engulfed the club, Phillips remains adamant the club will be able to sustain another season of top-flight hockey under the current regime.

"After much hard work we have sorted the situation out and this club is now fit and ready to go into the new season," said Phillips in a statement issued on Friday.

"The club will go on, and Maraini is fully committed to seeing the changes we put in place that were necessary to put this club back on stable ground are carried through."

Simon – who played for Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL – will have former Steelers' defenceman Neil Abel as his bench coach and is expected to land in the UK within the next two weeks to take up what will be his first-ever coaching role.

It's unclear as to whether forward Ashley Tait - brought back to Sheffield by Matsos as player-assistant coach after a year in Italy - will retain his dual role.

Simon has spent the last three days contacting players already signed up by the Steelers' for the 2010-11 season. As it currently stands he only has one roster place to fill, but it remains to be seen how many of the current squad will be there at the start of the season with a number of players believed to be considering their futures given the summer of discontent at Sheffield Arena.

Simon, 32, said he was fully aware of the club's recent off-ice turmoil, but added it did not give him any cause for concern.

"I would not be bringing my family over if there was a chance of things going wrong," said Simon, who spent most of last season with AHL outfit Toronto Marlies.

"I'm not at a point in my career where I need to take any kind of risk like that. It was an easy decision for me to come to Sheffield.

"I have no worries about the financial state of the club."