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Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder has told BT Sport that he is trying to keep his players grounded after they got closer to promotion following their 3-0 win over Hull City.The Blades moved back into 2nd place on Good Friday after they won while promotion rivals Leeds United lost to Wigan Athletic. A win against Yorkshire rivals Hull would get them even closer to the promised land though it will be a tough task against a Tigers side that have often been a tricky task against top Championship sides this season.But United ended up brushing Hull aside like they were nothing today. David McGoldrick put them ahead after just ten minutes later and he got another just twelve minutes later. And United were able to win the game before the half ended when Enda Stevens was able to head in.Wilder was obviously delighted with the win but he was keen to make sure his players kept their feet on the ground as the promotion race isn’t over yet. He said: “We’ve not taken any short-cuts and we needed a big weekend.”“Our preparation was good. To win games at the top end of the Championship you’ve got to tick a lot of boxes, and we ticked a lot of boxes.”“The position speaks for itself – 85 points with two games to go.”“We’ve just to get our heads down and recover well. We’re in (training) tomorrow and we’ve just got to make sure we prepare in the right way.”“We need to focus and make sure we take the opportunity on Saturday (at home to Ipswich).”“We are playing at a decent standard. We are in good nick.”
The current top three in the Sky Bet Championship will have their penultimate games of the season broadcast live on Sky Sports, across the final weekend of April.And it will be the Blades who play first, with the fixture against Ipswich Town remaining on Saturday 27th April, but with kick-off now 5.15pm, rather than the traditional 3pm.Later that evening, Norwich City will host Blackburn Rovers at Carrow Road, kick-off 7.30pm.And finally, on Sunday lunchtime, Leeds United will face Aston Villa at Elland Road, kick-off 12noon.
The Blades know that a win over already-relegated Ipswich Town on Saturday will all but guarantee them a return to the top flight of English football for the first time in 2007.Two wins over Nottingham Forest and Hull City over the Easter weekend, coupled with two defeats for promotion rivals Leeds United, means a win in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday will all but guarantee promotion, courtesy of the Blades’ superior goal difference.A sell-out home crowd will be cheering on United in front of the TV cameras and if the Blades win and Leeds drop any points against Aston Villa on Sunday, then promotion will be mathematically secured.
Good luck tomorrow @sufc_official I’ll be rooting for you!! Up the Mighty Blades ⚔️
Victory against already-relegated Ipswich on Saturday will virtually clinch promotion, easing the Blades six points clear of their closest challengers Leeds, who will have two to play and an inferior goal difference.The Premier League beckons after a 12-year exile. Back to the top with dreams of rekindling the glory days of Currie and Woodward.Like Barnsley-born Morgan, Wilder's Blades are captained by a local hero: Billy Sharp, 33 years old and improving with age.Sharp has 24 goals this season although he is not expected to be fit for the Ipswich game as he recovers from injury.It is 12 years since Sheffield United crashed out of the top flight, relegated by one goal on goal difference amid cries of injustice as West Ham escaped with an unlikely win on the last day at Manchester United, with the only goal scored by Carlos Tevez.This episode still rankles. The Premier League ruled that Tevez and Javier Mascherano had been signed illegally and fined West Ham £5.5million but did not deduct points and the Blades went down.Eventually,they won the legal case, and West Ham were ordered to pay compensation of £35m but this would not make up for the sense of lost opportunity at Bramall Lane.As the Premier League enjoyed its global boom, Sheffield United slid into League One where they languished for six years while nurturing talent which includes England international defenders Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire.The promotion bid in 2012 was derailed when 29-goal top scorer Ched Evans was jailed for rape in April.His conviction was quashed four years later but Evans was in prison as the Blades were pipped to automatic promotion by Sheffield Wednesday, finished third with 90 points and then lost on penalties at Wembley, the sixth of eight successive defeats in the play-offs.As Wilder puts it with a hint of South Yorkshire understatement, the club has 'been through the mill a bit'.Chairman Kevin McCabe, with his long association on the board, has led Sheffield United steadily and with integrity through these years of instability and heartache.Now, with the club three points from the Premier League, McCabe and Prince Abdullah Bin Moasaad Bin Abuldaziz al Saud, a co-owner since 2013, are locked in a fight for control and braced for a date in the High Court next month.Wilder admits he considered quitting last summer as the boardroom power struggle threatened to impact on transfer plans.'I was open about it,' he said, but an agreement was reached, and the manager signed a new contract, assuaged by the return of Stephen Bettis as chief executive and reinforced his squad with the help of £11.5m from the sale of David Brooks to Bournemouth. Now, with the club three points from the Premier League, McCabe and Prince Abdullah Bin Moasaad Bin Abuldaziz al Saud, a co-owner since 2013, are locked in a fight for control and braced for a date in the High Court next month.Wilder admits he considered quitting last summer as the boardroom power struggle threatened to impact on transfer plans.'I was open about it,' he said, but an agreement was reached, and the manager signed a new contract, assuaged by the return of Stephen Bettis as chief executive and reinforced his squad with the help of £11.5m from the sale of David Brooks to Bournemouth.'I've got a clear vision of how I want this club to go forward, and I think what the players and staff have achieved allowed me to give my opinion.'I'm an employee and I respect that status but I'm the type of guy who walks in the front door and I'll walk out of the front door if it's not right.'There's no threats but it has to be right and I have to say the two owners got together and we improved.'Wilder responded and stands on the brink of completing a full set of promotions having led Oxford into League Two, Northampton into League One and the Blades into the Championship. Beat Ipswich and they might even break into a little jig at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United effectively sealed promotion to the Premier League by beating relegated Ipswich at Bramall Lane.Goals from Scott Hogan and Jack O'Connell put the Blades six points clear of third-placed Leeds, who host Aston Villa on Sunday (12:00 BST) and must beat in-form Villa at Elland Road to keep their extremely slim automatic promotion hopes alive.Even if they do so, Chris Wilder's side have a vastly superior goal difference compared to their Yorkshire rivals and would only finish outside the top two if:◾Leeds win their final game of the season away at Ipswich.◾Sheffield United lose their last match away at Stoke.◾Leeds overturn a goal difference which is 13 in Sheffield United's favour after Saturday's result.On such a big occasion, there were few signs of nerves on show from the home side, who are on the brink of ending a 12-year exile from England's top division.Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:"I'll let you guys talk about where you think we're going to be next year."We still have a game to play but we're going to try to win the Championship. That's how our mindset is. Who says we can't?"We've taken an unbelievably massive stride today but the game's not done yet. It's got to be an unbelievable swing between now and next Sunday."Hopefully we've done it, which is an incredible feeling for everybody connected with the club."
Sheffield United are effectively back in the Premier League for the first time since 2007 – and mathematical confirmation could come as early as lunchtime on Sunday.More than 30,000 watched Scott Hogan, on loan from Aston Villa, and Jack O'Connell score the goals that left Bramall Lane bouncing and ready to greet the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool next season.The Blades convincing victory against relegated Ipswich means Chris Wilder's side are now six points clear of third-place Leeds United who have two games left, the first against Aston Villa at noon. Just as significantly, The Blades goal difference is 13 better than their Yorkshire rivals. In other words, nothing is going to stop their promotion now
OUR CLUB 🔴#SUFC
Sheffield United have been promoted to the Premier League after Leeds United drew with Aston Villa in a hugely controversial game at Elland Road.The Blades are five clear of their Yorkshire rivals with one game of the Championship season remaining.United could still win the title if they record victory at Stoke City on the last day and Norwich lose at Villa.Promotion means the Bramall Lane side will play in the top flight for the first time since 2007.
Kevin McCabe has confirmed plans to sell Sheffield United if he wins next month's legal battle with fellow co-owner HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.Speaking after Chris Wilder steered the club back into the Premier League following a 12 year absence, McCabe admitted he wants to "pass on the baton" and support the team from the terraces rather than the boardroom.The Scarborough based businessman, who has been involved with United for over two decades, is known to have held talks with parties from China and the USA before entering into an ill-fated partnership with Prince Abdullah six years ago. "I want to be a supporter next season," McCabe said. "I want to be able to pass on the baton to new owners, to shout and yell and not be discreet in the directors' box.""The Premier League has changed since we were last there," McCabe, aged 71, continued. "I understand it but it's for younger people."McCabe and Prince Abdullah, who both control 50 per cent stakes in United's parent company Blades Leisure Limited, launched rival bids for sole control midway through last season.Their dispute is now scheduled to be settled at the High Court, with the hearing set to open on the same day Wilder and his squad take part in an open top bus parade and civic reception on Tuesday. Although all parties involved will be hoping for a swift resolution, there is a possibility the judge set to examine the issue could wait until the Autumn before delivering his findings."There's been common sense between Prince Abdullah and myself to ensure the club is run properly in spite of our differences," McCabe said, promising Wilder will receive funding for new players."We've just got on and made sure there's no obvious friction which could affect the performances of the first team and staff at Bramall Lane."
Sheffield City Council and Sheffield United have announced that there will be a promotion celebration Town Hall Reception, with an Open Top Bus Parade to take place on the evening of Tuesday 7th May.Further details will be announced in the coming days.
Thousands of Sheffield United fans can join the party, as the Blades celebrate promotion to the Premier League with an open top bus parade and civic reception in Sheffield.Sheffield City Council and Sheffield United have confirmed plans for the celebration event which will take place on Tuesday 7th May between 5.30-8pm from Bramall Lane to the Sheffield Town Hall.The open top bus, which will take the team's players and coaching staff through the streets of Sheffield, will leave Bramall Lane at 5.30pm, to arrive at the Sheffield Town Hall for around 6.30pm.The route will be closed to traffic, allowing United to greet people along the route.Blades supporters can join in the celebrations outside the Town Hall in a traffic free fanzone, where the team will be presented to share their jubilant success and mark the occasion with loyal fans.The event, including the action on the bus, will be projected on to big screens within the fanzone so that nobody misses out on the action.
Blades on parade!
"You fill up my senses"#sufc #twitterblades
Thousands of people lined the streets of Sheffield as the city celebrated Sheffield United's promotion to the Premier League.The team travelled from Bramall Lane to the city centre in an open-top bus.It was followed by a civic reception for the team, club staff and their families at Sheffield Town Hall.Sheffield City Council's chief executive John Mothersole said the club should be very "proud" of its achievements.
Boss Chris Wilder and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bettis say United's philosophy, identity and approach won't change following promotion to the Premier League.Squad strengthening, infrastructure developments and improvements are already works in progress according to the two men in key roles with regards to United's continued development as a football club.Bettis remarked: "We start with a budget that we all agree, but things do move and things do change, you never know what will happen and we will be reactive to it."But like Chris says, nothing changes, we're going to do our business like we have done for the last two or three years."We're not going to overpay for players, we're going to pay the right price for players, who will be assets to this football club, if it's not broke don't fix it."Bettis added: "The Premier League is a world stage and we're now fortunate enough to be in there. We're in final talks with a new shirt sponsor, an international company, which will be the biggest commercial deal this club has ever done in it's history."It'll be a significant figure, which will boost the income into the football club and it'll be used to strengthen the squad for the coming seasons."Initially there is the work to be done to meet Premier League requirements, for example, new floodlights and hard wiring, a stadium fit for Sky television to come into."There is media rooms and media suites needing to be built too, so there is a huge amount of work to be done in the next 12 weeks within the stadium itself."We're very mindful of the facilities we've got at the training ground, we're going to be trying to attract new players into the building and we want better facilities there too and we're talking and looking at plans at the moment."On strengthening the playing squad, Wilder added: "We want to invest in young players, players who can step up to this level, but we've also got to be realistic in the fact that we might be relegated and that's not me being defeatist because we'll be going all out to win games of football.
Midfielder Paul Coutts is among five players released by Sheffield United following their promotion to the Premier League.The former Preston and Derby player was a key member of the Blades side that won the League One title in 2017.But the 30-year-old lost his place after breaking his leg and started just two games this season.Martin Cranie, Conor Washington, Daniel Lafferty and Caolan Lavery will also leave Bramall Lane on free transfers.The club, who are now preparing for their first season in the top flight since 2007, have also transfer-listed seven contracted players.Those include forwards Leon Clarke, Ched Evans and Ricky Holmes, all of whom were out on loan in recent months.Blades boss Chris Wilder said: "I've thanked the players for their contribution but attentions have quickly turned to what is set to be another exciting campaign."
Sheffield United Football Club was funded by a £3million loan from Osama bin Laden's family, it has emerged in court today. A High Court judge is currently analysing a battle for control of the club between the co-owners - Kevin McCabe and Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is a member of the Saudi royal family.On the fourth day of the hearing, a sensational revelation was read out in court, seemingly linking the newly-promoted Premier League club to relatives of the former Al Qaeda leader. It relates to an investment opportunity within the club which became known as Project Delta - a £3million loan that McCabe said would never have to be repaid. In court on Wednesday, McCabe and Abdullah argued about whether or not the money would have to be paid back, with the Saudi prince insisting it would have been paid back through sponsorship. But on Thursday, Barrister Andreas Gledhill QC, who is leading Abdullah's legal team, said McCabe "knew the money had come from another source, namely a member of the Bin Laden family," according to the Sheffield Star.
The Blades are releasing a book to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.The coffee-table style publication - entitled 'Our Time' - is currently in production and expected to be available by mid June.The book has exclusive interviews with United's stars of the promotion campaign, detailing their favourite games and moments. It also has the post-season thoughts of manager Chris Wilder and foreword written by former boss Dave Bassett, who masterminded United's promotion from the second tier in 1990.In addition, the book has numerous unseen photographs from the closing months of an absorbing season in United's history. The 2018-19 campaign was a truly memorable one for players, staff and fans of the Blades, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League after a 12-year absence.Top-flight football was confirmed after a fascinating battle with Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, and was greeted by jubilant scenes across the city and beyond. The Blades finished the season with 89 points, six ahead of Leeds, and lost just twice in the league since Christmas. Skipper Billy Sharp scored 24 goals in all competitions and United kept more clean sheets than any other club. In 'Our Time', Sharp comments: "To get two promotions in three years, I'd never have thought that was possible in my wildest dreams. One would be enough but to get two, and get this club back into the Premier League, is just unbelievable." Goalkeeper Dean Henderson adds: "The gaffer brought me in because he wanted someone who could make key saves, come up with big moments at important times, and I think I did that. Everyone knows I'm a confident boy, I thought we were going to be promoted all year anyway so it wasn't a massive surprise to me when it was finally confirmed."Just two years after winning the League One title, the Blades are now preparing for life in the top-flight and 'Our Time' is a lasting memory of a season that surely no Unitedite of a generation will ever forget.'Our Time' will retail at £20 and will be available in the Blades Superstore, the release date will be confirmed in due course but it is hoped it will be in store in mid June.Click here to pre-order yours now.
Manchester City won the top-flight title last term and have now been joined in the elite division by newly-promoted trio Norwich, Sheffield United and Aston Villa.The new season gets under way on Friday, August 9 with Liverpool welcoming Norwich to Anfield.
Saturday 10th August AFC Bournemouth 15:00 Sheffield United
As per last season, United's first team will spend time in Portugal at the beginning of July, and the Blades have a fixture against Real Betis at the Algarve Stadium on Friday 12th July (KO 8pm local time).
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Real BetisA David McGoldrick goal in the 2nd half sees United record an impressive victory over La Liga outfit Real Betis in the Estàdio Algarve, Portugal.
FULL TIME David McGoldrick’s second half strike means we start our pre-season fixtures with a victory