Another week, another controversy coming from the business side of the Sheffield Steelers. This week's edition of Face Off Thursday on Mansfield 103.2 saw Mike O'Connor accuse referee Mike Hicks of having a conflict of interest when officiating games of the Nottingham Panthers, as he holds the shirt contract for the Panthers as owner of CH Sports.
The accusation comes from the amount of penalties he gave against the Steelers in the final period on Sunday, when our own discipline let us down and led to the 0-5 final period capitulation. O'Connor feels that Hicks should never be put in the sort of position where accusations can be thrown against him.
What is it about people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
I'm going to try to put some points across now, just calling it as I see it. Bear in mind that I am a Sheffield Steelers fan - in fact I'm a sponsor (minor sponsor, but still).
- Two Panthers players were kicked out on Sunday, the second of which is still an issue of contention for Nottingham fans. If Hicks was biased towards the Panthers, he had a funny way of showing it.
- There was no perceived conflict of interest from within the Steelers when 'Mr Wonderful' Paul Ragan owned both Sheffield and Cardiff.
- There's no perceived conflict of interest from within the club at Tony Smith being both the owner of the Steelers and the Chairman of the Elite League.
I presume we're working off the theory that Smith doesn't abuse his position in the league to benefit the Steelers, and it certainly does not appear that way. But sometimes accusations of the like are made, and understandably so.
The difference is, those sort of accusations are often made in the stands, or post-game in the pub, by fans. Not by club officials, on the radio (where clear evidence of what you said is there plain as day), in an official capacity. Why would you go out and say such a thing on the radio?
I wish it was the first time, but most times that our club officials wear the "club representative" hat, it seems to have a D on it, whether that be O'Connor or Simms.
I don't really know what to suggest. I certainly don't think Hicks has any vested interest in the success of the Panthers - I just think he's a pretty poor referee. If the Steelers were to start some sort of campaign to remove Hicks from his position, then Tony Smith would surely have to stand down too. And I don't see that happening.
My suggestion? Send the Steelers PR machine on a course to actually learn Public Relations to stop things like this happening. Failing that, we could use our superb medical relationship to get them that foot-from-mouth removal surgery that seems appropriate.
Any opinions? Email frozen.steel.91@gmail.com or tweet us @FrozenSteelBlog
Liam
@IAmMcCausland
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