Sponsored by
Ashley Tait quits Sheffield Steelers
ASHLEY TAIT, Sheffield Steelers' top scorer and arguably the premier British player in the Elite League, has quit the club.
The Star revealed in May that Tait may go for pastures new and yesterday he signed for Ritten Tigers in the Italian league.
It is a massive blow not just for coach Dave Matsos, who would happily have made him the top British earner in the league, but also to his team-mates - most of whom have publicly described him as "irreplaceable."
Tait, who will be 34 in August, wanted the experience of playing on the continent after winning most honours available in the British game.
He said he wanted a "change of scenery and a fresh challenge."
Matsos now has a fight on his hands to retain the double next season - as goaltender Jody Lehman and stellar defenceman Steve Munn are also off.
What do you think of Tait's decision to quit? Add your comment below.
"I had a great two years with the Steelers" said Tait "however I am a man who wants to travel and find new challenges and this one in Italy was something I couldn't turn down. This is the right time for me to try something new. When I came to Sheffield we had a plan and that was to win again. We did that and I think the Steelers have a core group of guys who will continue that tradition
"I now have a new challenge and I can't wait. Here I am with the incredible opportunity of travelling to a beautiful part of the world and play a sport that I love at a high level.
"I hope the fans will understand my decision. I have loved my time with the Steelers and when the time came to tell Mike O'Connor my decision he wished me well and told me that there was always a place with the club, that was nice to hear."
Matsos is now paying the price of having a successful team last year - his main players like Tait, Steve Munn and Jody Lehman being picked off by clubs with more money to spend.
BUY ONLINE: Buy The Star - Monday to Saturday - for local news, sport, features and ads. Sign up on line by clicking here.
READ MORE
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
