Blades board say sorry to supporters and accept relegation was their fault

The Blades, who are set to keep faith with manager Micky Adams, will be playing third-tier football for the first time in 23 years next season.

Birch is vowing to conduct a ‘root and branch review’ of the club’s operations but says the club’s board will accept responsibility for the decline.

He also made it clear that players will have to be sold this summer to reduce a wage bill which, at around £12m, is one of the biggest outside the Premier League.

Director Scott McCabe, son of Plc chairman Kevin McCabe, confirmed that the club will also be stepping up their search for new investment.

Manager Adams, meanwhile, will hold talks with the board in the next few days and admitted that relegation with his hometown club had been the ‘worst day’ of his professional career.

The Blades needed both Doncaster Rovers and Crystal Palace to lose this weekend to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

Both clubs picked up points, however, and the Blades were held to a 2-2 draw by Barnsley at Bramall Lane.

In a statement issued to supporters, Birch said: “This season and last have been painful and there’s no avoiding the reality of failure. The club has to hold its hands up and acknowledge that we got it wrong.

“We apologise to the fans that have so steadfastly stood by the club. They deserve success and we will work like hell to build a solid foundation on which we can base a team capable of, not only promotion back to the Championship, but also to the Premier League.

“Realistically, we understand we are a distance from the top flight – and it may take some time to get back there – but this is the beginning of that exciting journey.

“Even though we have run with a higher than average wage bill for players since relegation, and certainly one that was clearly sufficient for us not to expect to find ourselves relegated from the Championship, we have made mistakes and ultimately the board has to accept responsibility.

“We will undertake a root and branch review of all our operations,” he said. “Relegation means a significant drop in TV revenues and commercial hospitality and sponsorships.

“Quite clearly costs will need to be reduced significantly with player wages facing the brunt of those cuts. It won’t be easy but we have to re-balance the squad budget which will inevitably mean a number of our higher earners moving on.”

Birch, who was appointed by the Blades 18 months ago, said: “We are all devastated at being relegated but we have to rule a line under that chapter in the club’s history, learn from our mistakes and move forward with confidence and optimism every day from here on in.

“We aim to provide the best possible basis for Sheffield United to move forward as quickly as possible to be competitive again on and off the pitch.

“It is time for change and those changes will happen on many fronts as we build solid foundations across all aspects of the club.

“It will be a journey for the fans, staff and players alike,” he insisted. “We have renewed 10,000 season tickets which is a fantastic expression of support for Sheffield United FC and those supporters, together with our regular match attendees, will be at the core of the rejuvenation of this great club.”

The McCabe family have loaned the Blades over £6m in the last couple of seasons but Scott McCabe revealed that the club can no longer rely on such a level of support.

He feels his family has too easily ‘indulged’ managers in the transfer market and now wants to see less reliance on loan players and greater emphasis on youth.

“Throwing money at the problem has not brought us success,” said McCabe. “We have to try something different.

“I would also emphasise our desire to secure new investors for SUFC in order to bring in further funds and new ideas to boost the club’s revenues.

“We have relied too heavily on attempting short-term solutions and, if anything, indulging managers with too many quick fixes and short-term signings,” he said. “In hindsight, it is a factor that has contributed to the demise of United – the over reliance and use of the loan market has had a debilitating rather than strengthening effect on the first team.

“The family has continued to provide significant funds for managers to recruit to the team. We have been too willing to financially support this policy and are adamant that this will change.

“Success is now to be built on the firmest of foundations, which facilitates the long-term strengthening of all aspects of the football club. At the core of this re-building will be our Academy and development players, supported by our own experienced players and new signings who will have the success of the club in their hearts.”

Football club chairman Chris Steer, meanwhile, praised the Blades’ supporters – the majority of whom stayed to the final whistle on Saturday to applaud their team’s efforts.

“It hurts to be relegated and, as a lifelong Blade, I fully understand just how much our present position pains everyone,” said Steer. “However long it may take, we have to build with a strong and coordinated structure.

“It must be underpinned with an unwavering, robust belief that we can take this historic club forward with renewed vigour and enthusiasm – and get back to winning ways.”

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Report and analysis: Page 3.