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Gutted.... now what happens... My prediction is Fox surviving the cut based on a semi final, A final and 4th being just about acceptable to Tony Smith and Fox having a year left on his contract...

My preference is, no more Vanilla hockey and we look to get in a new coaching staff that have a different veiw on how the game of hockey should be played... thank Fox for his time and hire a coach with a more aggressive approach to playing style...

Jayboy

Yeah I think that’s a fair assessment Jay.

2 x seasons with no trophies and a 4th placed finish this season ain’t good enough, considering we’ll have one of the highest play budgets available. Our last 3 games of the season is the type of hockey I expect the majority of the time. Not just the exception.

Fox has done well, but I agree that we thank him for his services and look for a different more ‘Sheffield Steelers’ style approach. What I mean by that is, no nonsense, in your face, never say die ethos. I don’t see that style of team under Fox.

Plain vanilla hockey is played as the norm under Fox and from my point of view that’s not going to win many trophies. Yes, the grand slam season was very good, but I’m afraid that was very much a one-off with a terrible tragedy that in my opinion galvanised the team which was well managed by Fox.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe there will be a change of the coaching staff. Suitable ‘excuses’ will be given instead.

Just wondering when this whole "Fox doesn't play physical hockey" or "Fox teams play vanilla* hockey" trope came in? I don't remember anyone complaining about this in the first few seasons...but what I DO remember is we always ran into massive injury issues in the second half of those seasons, which costed us trophies. So maybe he's not as daft as all the armchair coaches seem to think.

*Seriously, what's wrong with vanilla? Great flavour.

Jayboy wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 7:38 pm

Gutted.... now what happens... My prediction is Fox surviving the cut based on a semi final, A final and 4th being just about acceptable to Tony Smith and Fox having a year left on his contract...

My preference is, no more Vanilla hockey and we look to get in a new coaching staff that have a different veiw on how the game of hockey should be played... thank Fox for his time and hire a coach with a more aggressive approach to playing style...

Jayboy

As an outsider without knowing all the ins and outs at Sheffield, I could totally see a situation where Fox carries on as GM, but is allowed to hire a head coach to split the duties up. Fox strikes me a lot like Finnerty, one of those characters who don't really see coaching in their long-term future within the game, and wanting to shift more into the business and other off-ice aspects.

Clear The Zone wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:07 pm

Just wondering when this whole "Fox doesn't play physical hockey" or "Fox teams play vanilla* hockey" trope came in? I don't remember anyone complaining about this in the first few seasons...but what I DO remember is we always ran into massive injury issues in the second half of those seasons, which costed us trophies. So maybe he's not as daft as all the armchair coaches seem to think.

*Seriously, what's wrong with vanilla? Great flavour.

It’s been in for a few years minus the Grand Slam season. In fact the season before the Grand Slam, I created a thread for a ‘`Fox Out’ in 2023.

www.steeltalk.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... ing+change

I was also happy to eat some humble pie during the Grand Slam season, and also created another topic for that as well.

I agree that injuries play their part in any season, but we’re not the only team who have had injuries.

If you enjoy Fox style hockey, that’s great. I don’t, so will use this forum to happily debate it.

I think what Jayboy and SMB are saying is they want what Belfast play like. I wouldn’t disagree with that but I’m not sure that’s the only way.

Fox has given us some great games, good results and trophies. Unfortunately I think last season the CHL took it out of us too much and let’s not underestimate how good that was. This season we’ve had an unsettled squad that never really gelled for more than a couple of games. To an extent that’s down to Fox’s recruitment but not entirely.

I think Tony Smith implied there’s a rebuild in progress. I think Fox as GM with a different coach might work.

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:22 pm

If you enjoy Fox style hockey, that’s great. I don’t, so will use this forum to happily debate it.

At the end of the day Fox-style hockey has won 69% of games (joint second most successful Steelers EIHL coach by win percentage) and he's done so over a longer stretch than either Simon or Adams by huge factor. So by that measure yes I have enjoyed Fox's style of hockey. Of all the factors that keep me away from games (mainly; cost of tickets, cost of parking, formulaic match-night experience) Fox's style of hockey isn't really an issue. But yes I would like us to win more trophies.

Clear The Zone wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:33 pm

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:22 pm

If you enjoy Fox style hockey, that’s great. I don’t, so will use this forum to happily debate it.

At the end of the day Fox-style hockey has won 69% of games (joint second most successful Steelers EIHL coach by win percentage) and he's done so over a longer stretch than either Simon or Adams by huge factor. So by that measure yes I have enjoyed Fox's style of hockey. Of all the factors that keep me away from games (mainly; cost of tickets, cost of parking, formulaic match-night experience) Fox's style of hockey isn't really an issue. But yes I would like us to win more trophies.

Adams never had a chance though, so I’m not sure that’s a fair comparison to be honest. He was replaced to get someone’s best mate in.

I can’t argue with the high win percentage. You’d think that would translate into more trophy wins, but other than the Grand Slam season we’ve won one other under trophy under Fox.

With probably the highest or one of the highest player budgets available in the whole EIHL, a high win percentage should be a given IMO.

As we move into the off-season and start the long preparations for next season, here’s a question for you….would you accept another trophyless season under Fox? AND if so, does he keep his job in your opinion?

I'd personally like to see a team thats a bit more physical rather than out and out speed, im not sure if its a Fox thing, a Tony Smith thing or the players thing but this year and the last few we haven't really had any one in the mould of Fitzy and I don't know why, because most like to watch a hard gitting game, it gets the fans going, gees up the players and other teams know not to take cheap shots. Do I want a goon? No, but I want someone who makes other teams think twice and unfortunately we dont have that

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 9:01 pm

Clear The Zone wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:33 pm

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 19, 2026 8:22 pm

If you enjoy Fox style hockey, that’s great. I don’t, so will use this forum to happily debate it.

At the end of the day Fox-style hockey has won 69% of games (joint second most successful Steelers EIHL coach by win percentage) and he's done so over a longer stretch than either Simon or Adams by huge factor. So by that measure yes I have enjoyed Fox's style of hockey. Of all the factors that keep me away from games (mainly; cost of tickets, cost of parking, formulaic match-night experience) Fox's style of hockey isn't really an issue. But yes I would like us to win more trophies.

Adams never had a chance though, so I’m not sure that’s a fair comparison to be honest. He was replaced to get someone’s best mate in.

I think it's fair to compare Fox to other actual coaches who've coached actual seasons, rather than comparing him against 'what-if' imaginary seasons with G in charge that live rent-free in everyone's head.

Would I take another Fox season with no silverware? I suppose if he brings a hard working team who play entertaining competitive hockey consistently and yet narrowly miss out on silverware then I probably would take that; most teams in most sports would give their right arm for that.

There are 9 other teams with players, coaches, ownership and staff who are crawling over hot coals year in year out to achieve the same goals as us, and several of those teams have comparable means to achieve them as us. If we want a competitive league then that means not winning anything is always a possibility. I would like us to win more silverware, but I accept that sport is not like that.