It has not been the start to 2022 that Nottingham Panthers had hoped for. After being beaten 4-0 at Manchester Storm on New Years Day, the Panthers lost comprehensively at home against the Belfast Giants on Monday, battered by seven goals to two at the Motorpoint Arena, tonight’s game at Dundee Stars has already been called off due to the hosts isolating under precautionary COVID protocol and now Coach Tim Wallace has been relieved of his duties with immediate effect.

Next up for Nottingham is a trip to Guildford Flames on Saturday for an Elite League match against a side that are a place and a point above the Panthers fifth in the table but in even worse form, having lost their last five matches, winning only one of their last nine.

For Panthers fans who have seen just one win in six themselves, it’s been a frustrating time of late with many airing their frustration, some stating the latest postponement should allow for ‘some improvement’ with the extra practice time, others suggesting it provides ‘opportunity’ to delve into the market and take a look at a few potential signings.

Coach Tim Wallace prior to his sacking looked a frustrated figure after the Belfast defeat, stating “We’re lacking confidence, the lack of practice (due to covid) or whatever it is, guys are gripping the sticks really tight, we had some grade A chances, some posts and are just not executing, we need to take a deep breath here, regroup, and somehow find a way to get some confidence”

Fans had criticised Wallace for his sides performances whilst others suggest it’s the players, especially the imports that simply haven’t been good enough this season. Many lie the blame with Chairman Neil Black and Director of Hockey Gui Doucet who make the key transfer decisions, some stating ‘Wallace is not to blame and those above him should be held accountable’ for providing the Panthers with a squad simply not good enough. Wallace to some has been made a scapegoat after doing well in his first full year, followed by a severely disrupted 2020 where his previous campaigns roster had been left in exodus.

Since COVID hit in March 2020 the Panthers squad was decimated with players leaving out during the Elite League abandonment and some of those key losses have never really been replaced, this season after a promising Elite Series win in May, the side have far too often fell short of the high standards expected of those paying to watch at the Motorpoint Arena each week.

Whilst Wallace is not to blame entirely, he’s certainly the man at the helm that gets first hit in the firing line when all goes wrong, recent results and performance have been evidently wrong, and hence why Wallace has been made the man to be shot down by those above, now questions on his replacement, will hope to be answered sometime soon.

*Main image @PanthersIHC Coach Tim Wallace sacked as Head Coach.