"We want the fans clamouring to be back," Sheffield Steelers boss says

Hudgell is to quit the Rugby League club after 16 years, his decision perhaps ultimately influenced by the mind-boggling difficulties of running a Super League club at the time of a pandemic.

"Lockdown has given me a chance to reflect on the sport, the club and my personal situation," Hudgell said.

Smith knows something of what Hudgell is going through.

Sheffield Steelers' hopes of representing UK in Europe dashed

He runs Sheffield Steelers and is chairman of the Elite Ice Hockey League, both currently stuck in limbo as talks continue about when - or if - a new season can start.

Smith and his EIHL board colleagues are hoping the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport - whom they are in regular contact with - will allow them to resume indoor sports in December.

If it is delayed, some of the clubs might try and pursue a shorter campaign, possibly from January to May, or February to June.

That is the "Plan B" that Smith and some of his colleagues may have to assemble.

The story of Hudgell briefly crossed Smith's mind when asked how he'd feel if the 2020-21 season failed to get the Government go-ahead to proceed.

While the Sheffielder certainly isn't planning on quitting his own club or EIHL duties any time soon, he would be hugely disappointed if the entire campaign was binned...the fate that has just met the Continental Cup programme.

But it would not be curtains, in the long term, for Steelers as a club.

They have faced much bigger calamities in the past and survived.

"If the worst-case scenario happens and we have to wait until August 2021 then we'd just have to make sure we will be ready to go in a bigger and better way than ever before," he said.

"We'd want the fans to be clamouring to be back and we'd rally all the troops to make it happen.

"But we do not want that scenario to happen. We hope we can be back on the ice in December.

"If it goes into the new year maybe a season of 20 or 25 weeks is feasible, rather than the 28 or so from December."

Workaholic Steeler Eberle ready to put in another massive shift

Smith said the league would have a ready-to-roll "Return to Play Protocol" which would keep fans safe and socially-distanced.

Off the ice, players and officials would also be kept apart.

"It's about good housekeeping," he said. "But at the moment, we are just waiting for Government advice"

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