Sheffield United: Blades have the most expensive squad in League One – McCabe

The Blades owner confirmed that cutting costs in line with new Football League financial regulations is a ‘necessary priority’ – heightened by the failure to clinch promotion last season – but says he is still committed to the club.

McCabe revealed a streamlined operation at the club will be unveiled next month, while insisting that despite cutbacks the Blades still have the most expensive squad in the division.

He said: “While a few off-the-field changes were made in the 2011 close season, I decided we were a Championship side in League One, thus held back on sensible cost-cutting believing we’d achieve our goal. So, with failure occurring and accepting that currently, although not for long, we’re a League One side in League One the cost cutting off the field became an unfortunate but necessary priority.

“The club will now be run on a more efficient basis and the process of reorganisation should be fully in place within the next few weeks. However, our football division continues to be strengthened with six new players signed – all for transfer sums other than (Matt) Hill and (Tony) McMahon – and the shape of the squad I reckon is both the best in League One and the most expensive. We also re-signed, against expectations, Kevin McDonald and Chris Porter.”

“The added issue that all clubs have to address is the Football League’s ‘Fair Play’ and SCAMP (Salary Cost Management) Protocol which we can’t ignore.

“Our big problem is the residue of certain senior players still on high Championship packages which unless resolved or are granted a waiver, could see us technically breach SCAMP conditions leaving ourselves open to a transfer embargo and financial penalties. This vitally important topic cannot be ignored.”

Two senior players, Nick Montgomery and Richard Creswell – set to become a player-coach with United – have been left out of the squad for the past few matches, reportedly for financial reasons, but McCabe insists he has never instructed boss Wilson to omit 
either of them.