Finance expert makes Sheffield United claim amid takeover uncertainty

Football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley has claimed that he does not expect to see Sheffield United hit with future sanctions, following their two-point deduction ahead of next season.

The Blades have been hit with a two-point penalty, and a further two points deduction suspended, for defaulting on payments to other clubs during the 2022/23 season.

An EFL statement said: “The sanction relates to the 2022/23 season, when the club defaulted on a number of payments to other clubs. The suspended points deduction will be activated if the club defaults on any payment due to another club under a transfer or compensation agreement for more than five business days from the due date for payment.”

Dr. Dan Plumley’s verdict on what future holds for Blades

The football finance expert, who is a Senior Lecturer in Sport Finance at Sheffield Hallam University, believes Sheffield United’s future largely depends on the ownership situation at the club.

Speaking to FLW, Plumley said: “I think this is a really good example of the challenge of two different regulatory frameworks – the Premier League and the Football League.

“Obviously, Sheffield United’s points deduction kicks in upon relegation, if they’d have been in the Premier League, then no points deduction. So it is an interesting case.

“I don’t see any further immediate sanctions based on what I’ve seen, to answer your question on what happens next, a lot of that will depend on the takeover or not.

“We’re lead to believe that there is a consortium lined up, they didn’t spend big in the Premier League the season just gone, we know they had big financial troubles with big losses in 2022 and 2023.

“Premier League finances will have boosted that a little bit, they’ve still got parachute payments and that will be an advantage in the Championship, regardless of what they do.”

So what does all of this mean for Blades when it comes to spending in the transfer market this summer? Will they have to be clever and shrewd? Or can they splash the cash if they wanted to?

“If they wanted to spend a little bit they can,” said Plumley.

“I don’t expect them to, even then for me it’s going to be what happens next with this club is if the takeover goes through, does that then free up some funds for investment into the playing side of things?

“If it’s as is right now, I probably expect them to rein it back a little bit.”

The latest on proposed Blades takeover

According to a recent report from The Telegraph via The Star, Sheffield United’s proposed takeover by a group of United States investors is in the hands of the EFL.

It is now believed the only process that is still to be ironed out is the ‘fit and proper’ test from the governing body, which will determine whether the consortium can provide proof of funds and future planning proposals.

The Silicon Valley group who are hoping to become Blades’ new owners, are reportedly confident that everything will go through without a hitch, and have already began working behind the scenes to implement their vision at Bramall Lane.

This sale will mark the end of what has been far from a smooth process of selling the club for owner Prince Abdullah, after multiple prospective takeovers of the club failed, including a Nigerian bid from Dozy Mmobuosi, who was later accused of fraud in the US.

But it appears that Blades fans will finally be able to welcome in a new era at their football club in the coming weeks, as they look to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

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