Sheffield United Q&A: Transfer priorities, owner commitment, embargo prospect, Gus Hamer future and more
Our latest Sheffield United Q&A tackles your questions on the club's ownership situation, Chris Wilder's transfer plans, the future of Gus Hamer and even fears of a transfer embargo, plus more, as the Championship season draws closer.
It’s been another eventful few weeks off the pitch at Sheffield United, with more owner controversy and the good news of a contract extension for Chris Wilder to provide a bit of stability. United have also continued their unbeaten run on the pitch, beating Levante earlier today in Spain.
With the new season creeping into the distance, we opened up our Q&A to fans and got a selection of questions sent in, albeit mostly with an ownership and transfer focus. Part one is here, with the second instalment to follow.
Thanks as ever to anyone who took the time to send in a question - and stay tuned for part two...
Sheffield United FR, David Swann: Which positions is the coach looking to strengthen during this transfer window ? And how many new signings is he aiming to make?
The plan going into this window was always about quality rather than quantity, with a big emphasis placed on getting some players out before getting some in. United have certainly done one better than the other so far, with around a dozen leaving and only Romelle Donovan (plus Jairo Riedewald resigning) coming in.
The areas of weakness are still pretty obvious – left wing, centre-half and right-back. I’d currently peg it at four players still needed, two in the middle of defence, and that will obviously change if United lose any more key men after selling Andre Brooks to Norwich.
Andrew Challenger: Are Sheffield United in a live regulatory investigation, and with the outcome directly affect transfers, ownership, and potentially the season ahead? Cash flow is unknown. If we owe £35m to the previous owner, we won’t spend 10m on a striker? Is the EFL watching? Any reckless spending could trigger sporting sanctions. The owners may not have the money. What isn’t going off! So why no transfer budget? Is the club stuck in a legal and regulatory freeze. We can’t commit millions to transfers when we might be sanctioned, sold again, or dragged through court?
A comprehensive question from Andrew which isn’t an easy answer. They’re not currently under any official regulatory investigation but the EFL and independent regulator are aware of the situation and have spoken to both sides.
Spending £10m on a striker was never going to happen – United spent (and let’s be honest, wasted) so much last summer and are now paying the price, pardon the pun, as well as losing parachute payments and having to deal with new financial rules.
Any court battle will no doubt be expensive but the suggestion to us has not been that the owners can’t afford to pay the outstanding amounts to Prince Abdullah – more that they believe the club isn’t worth what they agreed to pay. That hasn’t been officially confirmed, of course, and it will all come out in court if it gets that far.
Reus: Main and genuine question Is “Why on earth did Rosen and Eltoukhy buy SUFC if they did not want to invest their personal wealth. It can’t have been because they considered it good business, as all evidence of football finance suggests otherwise”.
On a similar theme, I guess, to the previous question. Whatever you think of the United owners they have invested their personal wealth – by way of an £11m loan, according to the last accounts, to keep the club going and cover that year’s losses.
Look at where United were when they took over – in the automatic promotion places in the Championship and, as things stood then, less than six months away from a place in the Premier League.
So the attraction is obvious; the riches that the top-flight brings. Neither grew up dreaming of owning Sheffield United. Steve Rosen is the co-founder of a private equity firm and the sole aim of those is to invest in businesses and make money.
There’s no issue with that, in my mind, but also there can be little argument that it hasn’t worked so far. In that case businessmen have two options, really – invest further to try and turn things around, or cut their losses. Rosen and co-owner Helmy Eltoukhy insist their commitment to United has not changed, but actions always speak louder than words.
Paolo Pasta man Sheffield Bowler Italian Kop Blade: When will the owners give Blades fans clarity on upcoming season plans?
This question was sent in before Thursday’s statement, in response to a series of questions from the Fan Advisory Board, amid the ongoing boardroom dispute. Whether they gave the ‘clarity’ that fans were looking for, I’m not so sure.
In fairness to the owners there is only so much they can divulge, and they are never going to come out and say “We’ve given Chris £5m to spend and want Harry Souttar.” That would be foolish.
Chris Pickering: Do you know if Blades have got any new wingers and or strikers coming in?
As things stand – and I always use that phrase after seeing previously how things can change in football – not strikers. In Bamford, Cannon, Campbell and One, plus O’Hare as a potential second striker, the Blades have a decent pool of forwards, especially if they continue playing one and a No.10 with two wingers as they did last season.
Wide men, absolutely. We revealed earlier this year that United are targeting genuine width on both flanks and have earmarked Gus Hamer for a more central role, should he stay. He had to play out wide at Chesterfield because of the lack of other options but the hope is that will change soon, potentially with the signing of Rabbi Matondo.
Jon: Are we in danger of a transfer embargo? Will Hamer and Campbell have to be sold as they are in the final year of their contracts? Is the training ground ever going to happen?
The understanding is that the threat of sporting sanctions – points deductions, embargos etc – is still some way down the road at this stage. Much will depend on whether the EFL or IFR decide that United have gained a sporting advantage by allegedly failing to pay the Prince.
They don’t ‘have’ to be sold, although that has been United’s previous stance. It will come down to the offer on the table – if someone, completely hypothetically, offers £3m for Hamer. Are you better taking the money and running or saying: “Realistically, are we going to be able to replace his right boot for that?” and standing firm?
There’s always a third option, that he stays put after the window shuts and then contract talks naturally continue. The same with Campbell. Hopefully their focus is on righting the wrongs of last season and, as senior players, leading that from the front.
And yes the training ground will happen; work restarted on that earlier this year after being paused for a period. The original timescale has had to be pushed back but United’s women’s side are using the site and the hope is that we’ll see real progress soon.
SINGH: Can you ask Wilder why we have the same situation every transfer window of “waiting for the right players to come available” instead of acting and paying over the odds near the deadline as clubs know we are desperate.
I think the answer is in the question there, Singh. In United’s position, with money tight and a very defined profile that the manager is looking for in terms of ability and attitude, they can’t afford to just get anyone in for the sake of it.
That leads to frustrating delays for everyone but it is simply where United find themselves at the minute. There are options out there to go and get but United have to hold their nerve to try and get the best ones for what they need.
Inevitably there will be late business – there always tends to be, at every club, for whatever reason – but the hope remains that United will be in pretty good shape by the time they start the Championship season in just under a month’s time.
Craig Edwards: How optimistic are you about Chris getting his targets in before the start of the season?
I’m a pessimist by nature so I wouldn’t put too much store in my doubts! But I know that work is ongoing and those far closer to the action than me are confident that the wheels will start to turn soon.
It won’t be big-money moves like we’ve seen elsewhere in the Championship; more evolution than revolution. Whether that will be enough, only time will tell. But, at risk of repeating myself, the shambles of last summer looks even more damaging as time goes on.