Steelers fans are handed chance to quiz owner following latest setback

For the second successive summer, the South Yorkshire club have been dogged by off-ice problems, with Rink Corp Limited, the company who ran both the Steelers and Elite League rivals the Cardiff Devils, going into voluntary liquidation, with the loss of 16 jobs.

Last year saw another of the club’s operating companies go into liquidation under former owner Bob Phillips, prompting a management walk-out which included head coach Dave Matsos and GM Mike O’Connor.

After appointing rookie player-coach Ben Simon, Phillips steered the Steelers through until just before Christmas when a deal was brokered which saw Ragan take over – while also retaining ownership in the Devils.

The Steelers and the Devils were then involved in a tense title race which lasted until the final weekend of the season when Sheffield were crowned regular season champions for the third time in eight years.

Simon quit the club within a week of the post-season play-off final weekend in Nottingham, leading to former Steelers’ forward Ryan Finnerty being installed as his successor within days, also taking on his first player-coach role having played at Cardiff for the previous 18 months.

While the latest off-ice problems are unlikely to hinder either club’s ability to contest the 2011-12 season – business licences to trade under the clubs’ names have apparently already been issued – the latest financial setback once again highlights the difficulties faced by most club owners in trying to sustain top-flight hockey in the UK.

Newcastle Vipers’ folded at the end of the 2010-11 season after persistent financial difficulties, while Edinburgh Capitals only made it through to the end of the campaign after losing most of their import players.

The Steelers Forum will be held at Sheffield University’s Richard Roberts Building, Brook Hill on Thursday. Doors open at 7pm.