The Prince at the Lane: what has he achieved so far?

Article by Sheffield United Correspondent Sam Attrap

Prince Abduallah Bin Mus’ad has attended his first home game as Co-owner of Sheffield United F.C. He has barely been a part of the football club for two months, but many off-field events have marked that time.

Recent history has shown mixed fortunes for clubs with large investment and whilst it’s impossible to see into the future, we can explore the short but dramatic period since he bought a 50% stake in the Sheffield United parent company ‘Blades Leisure PLC.’

In that initial period, a statement of intent suggested action would be taken to return the club to the Premier League “as quickly as possible.*” This phrase smacked of a short-term and unrealistic ambition – but it was, of course, an ambition shared by the fans.

After a poor run of form David Weir was sacked and upon the appointment of Nigel Clough, Kevin McCabe remarked "We are looking to get this club back into the Premier League in a sensible period of time.**" In the space of 50 days the clubs rhetoric changed from a quick fix attitude to a more contemplative one. This is largely to be applauded, if it is as it appears; a sign that the board share a mutual and realistic plan of progression. Hopefully it is not a sign that the attitude of the board will swing like a pendulum from issue to issue.

The sacking of David Weir highlighted the clubs’ toleration of failure - and overall David Weir did provide failure. Failure to deliver excitement and results on the pitch and, consequentially, support off it. But, as a rookie manager he was always going to make mistakes and I wonder how many mistakes Nigel Clough will be allowed. Will the board accept, as could be reality, a lower half finish this season? I am not sure that they will. 

Although Sheffield United will be judged on the pitch, in stormier tides the club will be judged off it. For me, a board should be appreciated for how it engages and empathises with its’ fans. With recent revelations that Director Selahattin Baki was formerly involved with a Turkish hooligan gang, it is plausible that fans will question the decision making of board members.

One person heavily involved in making sure the fans remain confident is director Jim Phipps; a Californian-turned-Blade and associate of Prince Abdullah. Tweeting almost daily, he has maintained a connection with fans that has previously been non-existent and for that, should be applauded. Phipps’ role could be imperative over the coming years and offers a refreshing source of communication between ‘the fan and ‘the board.’ But as I am sure he is well aware, discussing the expectations online is very different from maintaining them.

In the short-term though, the board can sit comfortably in the knowledge that fans are excited about a new era with a popular new manager and imminent first team investment. However the board will do well to remember that further revelations which appear to the detriment of the clubs historic working class, family orientated background, could seriously backfire long term.

An alleged ex-hooligan on the board of directors will be mostly forgotten with an improvement in fortunes, but as a Blade and a pessimist I shall always be cynical of directors; like most football fans. Sheffield United F.C can be one of the positive examples of foreign investment and not a Blackburn Rovers. We sit at the basement of League One; the only way is upwards and United fans know, at least, the new board haven’t appointed another Bryan Robson.

reported in Sheffield Star 03/09/13* 
reported Skysports Online 23/10/13**

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