Sheffield United dressing room message clear amid boardroom controversy as captain fronts up in owners' absence
As Sheffield United’s owners continued to shy away, players and staff were left to answer questions about Bramall Lane’s latest boardroom controversy. But the Blades skipper insists the dressing room's attention has not wavered from their ultimate goal this season. Danny Hall reports
When Sheffield United supporters met up ahead of Saturday’s pre-season friendly at Chesterfield, much of the talk was dominated by events of the past week rather than the 90 minutes that was to follow. A tumultuous few days off the pitch saw the Blades owners’ company served with a winding-up petition.
The issue, Blades fans soon learned, stemmed from the last two instalments owed to former owner Prince Abdullah for the 2024 sale of United allegedly going unpaid. The prince’s legal team responded with the petition, hiring renowned barrister Nick De Marco to fight their corner.
So, as Unitedites should have been debating new transfers or even how the new away kit will look, they instead found themselves with more unanswered questions about the future of their football club.
But, as has been the case for the last 18 months, the people in a position to provide them were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, those questions inevitably trickled down through the football club. They would have been asked to manager Chris Wilder, had he been on media duty after the Chesterfield draw.
But a pre-planned move before the week’s news saw assistant manager Micky Collins and Phil Jones instead face the media, as well as club captain Japhet Tanganga. In many ways it felt unfair.
None of them negotiated the takeover. None of them decided how it would be financed. None of them can explain the legal dispute with Prince Abdullah. Yet in the ongoing absence of those above them, they become the public face of it.
Skipper Tanganga became the first United figure to address the impact the latest off-field turmoil had had on the dressing room. It should never really have been his responsibility. Yet, in the absence of any meaningful communication from those at the very top of the club, somebody was always going to be asked.
“Our main focus is what’s going on on the football pitch, and us as players,” he said. “Whatever is going on, is going on. We’re just focusing on getting things right and improving on last season.
“Taking on board what happened and trying to get the club back where it should be, and that's playing in the Premier League. When we cross those white lines on the training pitch or the match pitch, we are making sure we do the right things to try and get ourselves back where we should be.
As captain, I have to basically be a reflection of what the gaffer wants on the football pitch. And to funnel that through to the players. Hone in on that and basically just be a representation of what he wants.
“So, that's my role. And, as well, there are other players in that team as well who don’t wear the armband, but they’re big leaders that we need. And so that’s our main point.”