<div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">SENIOR figures at Bramall Lane expect Kevin Blackwell to still be in charge next season despite his threat to resign following Monday's Champion-ship play-off final defeat by Burnley.</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">Blackwell's decision to publicly contemplate his future is known to have taken members of the club's board of directors by surprise and has dominated the agenda since their return from Wembley. Kevin McCabe, Sheffield United chairman and major shareholder, is believed to have spoken to Blackwell last night for the first time since the 1-0 reverse to confirm his backing. But despite McCabe's support - behind the scenes at least - for the status quo, the former Leeds and Luton chief believes major changes are afoot on the pitch as United prepare for life without a Premier League parachute payment. Blackwell's emotional outburst is likely to have been motivated by his experiences at Elland Road where Ken Bates dispensed with his services just months after suffering a similar setback in the 2006 play-off final at Cardiff. But, as one source told The Star, United's balance sheet is far sounder than the one which threatened their neighbours' very existence before Bates steadied the ship. "There is no comparison," he said. "We had plans in place (before the Burnley game) for both eventualities." Blackwell's first task - should he reaffirm his commitment - will be to decide which, if any, of the loan players within his squad to retain. United's chances of keeping Sunderland's Greg Halford would appear to have diminished while the futures of Arturo Lupoli (Fiorentina), John-Joe O'Toole (Watford) and Craig Beattie (West Brom) are also shrouded in doubt. Lee Hendrie and Sun Jihai could also be vulnerable when the process of rebuilding a team capable of challenging for promotion begins in earnest while talks must also be scheduled with those whose present deals are set to expire. However, United's decision to budget for every eventuality should help soften the financial blow of failing to end their two-year exile from top-flight competition. United could also recruit a striker to provide competition for Jamie Ward and Darius Henderson who missed the out against Burnley because of an achilles problem. Jermaine Beckford, a player Blackwell knows well, was yesterday placed on the transfer list by Leeds but it is not known if his asking price and wage demands would price United out of the market. </div>
Am i missing something with all these sheffield united stories? They all seem to make a big deal about the fact that poor little sheffield united wont have any parachute payments next year but are they not expected to be getting a few million quid handed to them from west ham?
As I said to the missus... If the Blunts future stability depends on a lost £11m parachute payment there's summat wrong somewhere. If they're canvassing for the sympathy vote they ain't getting it from me, I can tell you! (titanic)
It's to be paid over 6 years and the amount is undisclosed. </p> It's not inconceivable that it's a paltry sum just to shut them up. The undisclosed bit is almost certainly someone trying to save face and I'm betting it's not West Ham.</p>
That's me told off <img src ="http://saidkhorramshahgol.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/cute-puppy-pictures-sorry-eyes.jpg">
Barnsley's bad feelings towards the Blunts will remain while Blackwell is still there Morgan was under orders, not to try and kill anyone, but to kick Barnsley players off the pitch Unfortunatly Morgan took it too far and I would say if the incident was on Wellington Street it would be classed as attempted murder As for the parachute payment........£20 Million over 6 years which aint bad but its not like £11 million per year from the parachute payment And remember, the Blunts wage bill is enormous (3+++ compared to Barnsleys)..........thats why Howard and Ward are over there instead of over here
You're top of my Christmas Card List I'm just not sure if I should send it to Broadmoor or Rampton you looney
