GLASGOW CLAN chief operating officer Gareth Chalmers has admitted that the team’s recent run of form has been hugely frustrating, and he admits that he has never seen a team as badly hit by from illness and injury as his side have been in recent weeks.
Before Christmas, the Clan topped the EIHL but recent weeks has seen them slip to seventh position.
“I have been involved in hockey now for 20 years and have never seen a team hit by the injuries and illness the way we have been this season,” said Chalmers.
“We seem to take one step forward and then two steps back.
“This has without a doubt had a massive effect on our season, it’s absolutely crippled us and has been the major factor in our loss of form and ultimately our slide down the table. We haven’t been able to get a settled team, settled lines, settled special teams and continuity throughout the club which is now catching up with us. On paper this team is probably the most talented group of players we have ever had here – so it’s been extremely frustrating to see this happen.”
However, Chalmers is quick to stress that he is doing everything possible to get as strong a team out on the ice as he can.
“Rest assured we are doing everything as a club we can to rectify the situation and get our form turned around. We’ve now carried a spare import and spare British player since late November to try and support the situation, which is something we have never been in a financial position to do as a club until this season. We are waiting on further injury news presently which could force us back into recruiting another additional player.
“Despite having a tight player budget due to our uncontrollable financial constraints (Arena rent, Arena capacity, our larger competitors now spending 50% to 80% more than we are, etc.), we are now spending more money on the team than we have ever done in the 10 years of the Clan. As a club we are working flat out to try and ensure this club finishes as high up the table as possible and has a successful end to the season.”
The Clan have a busy weekend ahead, with a three games over the next three evenings, beginning with Friday’s clash with Dundee Stars.
And Chalmers is hopeful that his side can make get their home form in particular back to where it was earlier in the season.
“It’s an important time period coming up for the club,” he said
“We have a very good run of home games heading into February and we must focus on turning around our form and making Braehead a fortress once again.”
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