Exclusive: Blades block Warnock raid

NEIL WARNOCK has rocked former club Sheffield United by lodging a bid for midfielder Nick Montgomery.

Warnock, newly appointed manager of Queens Park Rangers, wants Montgomery to quit the Blades on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.

His boldfaced move is guaranteed to stir things up ahead of tomorrow's Championship game between the two sides which will mark Warnock's fourth return to Bramall Lane since his departure as manager in 2007.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Blades have rejected the initial offer but Warnock – who many United supporters will always love to hate – is refusing to give up the chase for the 28-year-old, who will be a free agent in the summer after rejecting the offer of a new two-year deal.

Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Wolves and Middlesbrough are also keen but Montgomery is a huge admirer of Warnock who is looking to guide Rangers back into the Premier League.

The Londoners are willing to pay 200,000 to take Montgomery before this month's transfer deadline – a fee based on his value over the final weeks of the season and his availability as a free agent in the summer.

However, the Blades would be risking a fans' revolt if they allowed their longest-serving player to leave with just 11 games to go in the race for play-off qualification.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Manager Kevin Blackwell – who has already seen the club sell prize assets including Matthew Kilgallon, Kyle Naughton and Kyle Walker in the last eight months to help balance the books – made an impassioned plea for Montgomery to stay last night, stressing the importance of job security at a time when many football clubs are struggling to stay in business.

"We have offered Monty a contract and he has turned it down," said Blackwell. "We have offered the only deal that we can afford, we have gone as far as we can, and the chairman is adamant that we do not live beyond our means.

"Football is still in a financial crisis and it has not hit the bottom yet. There are a lot of clubs out there who are a lot less stable than we are so, hopefully, you take a look at what you have got around you.

"Stability in people's lives right now is more important than an extra 1,000 here or there. As a player, it would be nice to know that you have two years' security and, being a family man, that might be an important factor."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Expressing his firm desire to keep the Leeds-born midfielder, Blackwell said: "I love him, he is a great lad, and I don't think he would be as good at any other club as he is at Sheffield United. We go together. It took him a long time to win over the fans but they now respect him and know what a good player he is and what he does. I hope he doesn't throw that all away.

"I have the greatest admiration for Monty. He works out what his ability is and makes the best of it. When he doesn't play, we struggle.

"He never complains, he is a terrific club man, and I know how important he is to the club."

The Blades may yet agree to part company with midfielder Stephen Quinn who is wanted by promotion-chasing Swansea.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Although the club have recently exercised an option to retain his services next season, Quinn, 23, is no longer guaranteed a start and has been on the bench in the last few weeks. Swansea have offered 500,000 to sign Quinn, initially on loan, but the Blades are demanding a fee closer to 1m.

Tomorrow's fixture against QPR has gained in significance following the Blades' 1-0 away defeat at bottom-of-the-table Peterborough on Tuesday night.

With six defeats in the last nine league games, the Blades have slipped to sit four points adrift of the Championship play-off zone. It will take a significant improvement for them to get back into the top six and there have been fresh setbacks this week in terms of injuries.

Winger Jamie Ward will be sidelined for the next three weeks after tearing a hamstring and striker Ched Evans has been ruled out for six weeks with a shoulder injury. Midfielder Lee Williamson could also miss tomorrow's game after suffering a hamstring strain.

Striker Darius Henderson, however, is back in contention after serving a three-game ban.