Sheffield United: Manager won't risk a meltdown

Speaking ahead of today’s meeting with Chesterfield, Adkins warned recent events at Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth underlined the importance of “living within your means” despite outlining plans to revamp his first team squad.

Acknowledging Bramall Lane’s board of directors have seen little return on their investment in recent years - United are bracing themselves for a sixth straight season in League One - Adkins told The Star: “We’ve got to push the boundaries as much as we can. You can’t be losing money all the time, you’ve got to cut your cloth and get the budgets right while still pushing the boundaries as much as possible.

“That’s what I’ll try and do, that’s what I’ll keep on doing. But look at Bolton who have just come down (from the Championship). Look at Portsmouth, who admittedly might come up (from League Two), and what happened there not so long ago. You’ve seen clubs who have pushed the boundaries but gone beyond their means and are in a right mess.”

Adkins, whose side are nine points behind sixth-placed Gillingham with only five matches remaining, added: “Aston Villa have been relegated and they’ll have to cut their cloth. People behind the scenes are going to lose their jobs which is terrible.

“We aren’t taking our foot off the pedal even thought we now it (the play-offs) is a big ask. The season isn’t finished and once you know the division you are in, then you cut your cloth according to it and ensure you are in a position to keep on improving.”