Dave Simms' Sheffield Steelers column: Hunt is on for new signings as we display '˜Guns Out' mentality

For well over a week the Steelers have been working on finding a quality replacement to add to the line up.

Players are available just not the ones we want at the moment. It is important we don't panic and jump into a bad signing, as desperate as we all are right now the one thing we don't want is a player who doesn't make a difference.

The club has its claws into a couple of guys at the moment and there is confidence that one of these will agree to leave their present base and head to Sheffield. One of those should he make that decision would be able to fly immediately and be here for the weekend. Fingers crossed.

One of the issues is that most European leagues only started 10-14 days ago. They aren't ready to make changes and put new players into the market place. Therefore the well isn't exactly overflowing.

I've had dozens of phone calls and messages over the last week asking about the 'panic' in Sheffield.

Well inside the Steelers there isn't any panic. Of course there is concern but no panic. Two weeks ago when the decision was made to make roster changes we set out a plan of how to get better.

Brendan Brooks was part one of that plan. We are an experienced club with experienced people at the helm. Stages 2, 3 and maybe even 4 are in process including trying to get both Robert Dowd and Davey Phillips back into the line up.

I'm typing this before tonight's game against Dundee, we all of course hope for victory but whatever the outcome we will remain on the course we set out a couple of weeks ago.

It's a horrible time, your stomach turns all of the day as you crack on with your job and watch those around you crack on with theirs.

There is certainly a 'Pointing the Guns Out' mentality right now and that has to remain. We will bring bodies in, we will get this right and we will go on to have success.

The one thing I don't see from anyone in the organisation is a lack of effort. In fact in certain quarters I see people perhaps trying too hard.

Sometimes that can be a problem, none of us do our best work when we are trying too hard. I may type too fast and make mistakes and players may grab those sticks too tight as a pass bounces off in the wrong direction.

Trying too hard can cause a player to over-play, it's with the best of intention this happens as everyone wants to do their best and succeed. Easier said than done but we all need to relax and breath.

Take Jackson Whistle for example. He has been our best player through pre season and the games played so far.

The poor lad gets a migraine in warm up against Cardiff, this after suffering with sickness the night before.

He doesn't want to let his team, his team mates and the coaches down so decides to play when he shouldn't. All done with the best of intentions. All done because he knew the Steelers needed him.

Then of course the issue of not being able to see the puck (never good for a goalie) comes into play and 3 shots and 3 goals later the game is already out of reach. I did feel for him on Sunday.  The reality is that we haven't seen our team play yet.

By that I mean play in the positions they were bought into play.

The injuries to Dowd especially have created issues, compound that with the Rupert brothers not working out and the Steelers have been an offensive line down.

The Brooks signing helps and win lose or draw he will only get better over the next few weeks. Once more reinforcements arrive we will be able to breath once again of that I'm confident.

Saturday will see the perfect game to put things right. A night with the Nottingham Panthers at the Fly DSA (Sheffield) Arena (face off 7pm)

If there was ever a time to inject some life and faith it would be against them. Never a hiding place against the Panthers. I don't think you could have asked for a better game in the situation we are in right now. I can't wait. See you there.