DOUG CHRISTIANSEN did not attempt to hide his disappointment at Sunday's 6-3 home defeat by Sheffield Steelers.
And Edinburgh Capitals' American coach was quick to admit that he was one of the players who did not produce on the night.
However, he did claim that the task of improving on the disappointing crowd of around 350 was not his job.
Sorry Doug – a
nd it gives me no pleasure to write this – but you're wrong. It is everybody's concern from owner Scott Neil to the youngest and most experienced player on the bench. They all contribute to the end product.
Capitals have now lost their last three games, shipping 17 goals in the process and scoring only seven.
The atmosphere on Sunday was akin to a morgue as Steelers plundered six straight goals after skipper Martin Cingel had opened the scoring for the home side in 57 seconds. A great start but the euphoria quickly evaporated.
This weekend's double-header, away to Edinburgh-born Tony Hand's Manchester, and at home to Hull Stingrays, could be huge.
Two defeats and already deflated morale will sink even lower in a dressing-room still reeling from the sudden departure of highly-rated defenceman Shawn Germain. The official word is that Germain went home suddenly because of family problems.
However, sources talk of unrest among the players caused by lack of proper accommodation and a shortage of transport, and the players' faces leaving the dressing-room on Sunday spoke volumes. That indicated that all was not well.
Front-line players like talented forward Mark Hurtubise continue to publicly put a brave face on the situation. They claim the tide will turn and that Christiansen has brought in quality players.
Christiansen says that he is two players short of a really good side. The fans think differently. One summed up for many: "The current players are journeymen, no better."
Empty terraces tell their own story. A price hike means it is now £16.50 for an adult to get into Murrayfield to watch a game – one of the most expensive tickets in the Elite League.
Frankly, the entertainment provided by Capitals against Belfast Giants in their opening Challenge Cup defeat, and on Sunday in the 6-3 reverse by Sheffield Steelers, was, to quote one disgruntled regular: "Like watching paint dry".
Fans were leaving before the end and several opined: "We'll not be back."
To be fair, Christiansen is working manfully to arrest the slide.
He's holding contract talks with a forward and hopes to encourage a defenceman to replace Germain.
Mark Garside, who missed Sunday's clash with a groin strain, should be back in the squad for Saturday. But this ailing side needs more than that. It needs a quick overhaul both on and off the ice. One shock result – a 3-1 road win at Sheffield – cannot be a marker for the season.
New marketing guru, West Lothian councillor Willie Dunn, is punting the club to the corporate market in Scotland's capital. The VIP balcony was bereft of spectators on Sunday.
It's a tough market as he's competing with Hearts and Hibs and Edinburgh Rugby, who offer a vastly superior experience. Dunn wants business people to take pre-match tables. It's like King Canute trying to repel the tide and in this climate he has more chance of selling tickets for a package deal by XL to Guantanamo Bay..
Saturday's road trip is tricky. Hand's men have just suffered their first defeat and will want to bounce back. Honest forecast: another confidence-sapping reverse unless something magical happens.
Sunday's home tussle with Hull Stingrays is, therefore, especially important. Defeat on Saturday would mean Capitals are staring five reverses in a row.
We're only two weekends into the season and some would argue that it is far too early to be sending up distress flares.
However, old hands at Murrayfield – who have been involved with the club for up to 40 years – believe what happens early season is crucial long-term.
A bad start destroys attendances – and that's what Capitals have suffered, without question. So it's crucial that Neil, Christiansen and Co act decisively and quickly providing, of course, there is some spare money.
The collapse of budget airline Zoom - with whom Capitals had a sponsorship agreement worth around £10,000 a season - plus the cost of Germain, could have plundered any reserves.
Any delay could mean we'll be left with diehards only on Sunday's at Murrayfield and that could signal the beginning of the end for Elite League hockey at the famous old stadium.
The full article contains 769 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
