Well I asm impressed, its nearly february, and Whispering Bob has finally slipped into his rumour mode again.
Just read his article on last nights game, and would you believe after a good win, he has now found reason to question the steelers financial situation - cant he just get a life!!
That is a bit of an unfair criticism. Bob Westerdale is not employed by the Sheffield Steelers, he is employed by the Sheffield Star. Therefore, Bob Westerdale's loyalties lie with the newspaper and is responsible for writing stories which would help newspaper sales. BW's job is to report on the Steelers as accurately as possible, not to spin everything to make the Steelers look good.
As far as BW questioning the club's financial situation, that can hardly be classified as unfounded rumours. Just look at the facts, attendances and sponsorship are way down, the team has an icredibly short bench which is hurting their performance and the club does not seem to be willing to bring in the neccessary reinforcements. IMHO with the situation as it is, BW is only doing his job (which is an employee of the Star, not of the Steelers) by questioning the financial situation of the club.
I am not saying that the club has financial problems, my point is that given the facts Bob Westerdale is justified in questioning the financial situation of the club.
Wanting to bring back Warren Norris does not mean that the club is financially healthy. Unless we know what type of wage the club offered Norris, we can't read much into that situation. One thing that is blatantly clear is that the club has not opened the purse strings in the slightest when it comes to bringing in players. The decision to go with such a short bench is a clear indication of saving money. Also, the reinforcements the club has brought in after the season started is hardly indicative of a club with a lot of money in the coffers. Mark Twaite was sacked by the Panthers long ago and has never shown that he is up to ISL standards, therfore he is not in any position to command a high wage. As it relates to Ron Shudra, while an excellant servant in the past, the truth now is that he is way past his sell-by date and no other ISL team would consider signing him. Chris Brant is also getting on in years, and for whatever reason was cut by the Basingstoke Bison in the BNL, so know doubt we signed him cheap.
The club may have money in the coffers, but if you look at how they have conducted their bussiness, you would be justified in questioning their financial stability, much like Bob Westerdale has.
Having had many a run in in the past with Bob, I feel this time theres not much need to have a shot at the bloke..He is not questioning the financial state of the steelers...he is pointing at something else...
I was going to make the comment that BW's few words at the end of his article alluding to some sort of money trouble but without the full story were rather uneccesary......now his rather cryptic comment (assuming that it is the real BW - I have no reason to doubt it) may suggest otherwise......all rather unsettling don't you think ?