Sheffield United: Why Kevin McCabe hopes Prince Abdullah and Co. understand Premier League club is 'an institution' and responsible for '1,000 staff'

Sheffield United’s former owner Kevin McCabe hopes Prince Abdullah and Co. understand that the Premier League club is 'an institution' after they were handed sole control by a High Court judge.
Kevin McCabe (right): Scott MerryleesKevin McCabe (right): Scott Merrylees
Kevin McCabe (right): Scott Merrylees

McCabe’s long association with United effectively ended when Mr Justice Fancourt decided that Prince Abdullah should become the new sole owner of the Blades, following a bitter and lengthy battle in the High Court.

McCabe has until November 4 to ask the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal the verdict – after Mr Justice Fancourt turned down their first bid – and that process alone could take six months, before another 18 months of uncertainty if an appeal is granted.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And, in an interview with The Athletic, McCabe said: “It is all about getting it right for the club. This club is an institution.

“I just hope foreign owners can grasp that. It does need them to do that. They may not be there consistently but they must understand the importance. It is under the control of someone for a period only. People should not forget that. It is too important.

“There are a dozen divisions of a football club. They are big organisations. We employ — directly and indirectly — around 1,000 people. I include those who sell the programmes, turnstile operators. We are responsible for all those people. Do some of the owners understand that? Maybe only when things go wrong.”

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.