SHEFFIELD United chairman Kevin McCabe says the club’s purse strings will be tightened after £15m losses were compounded by their failure to win promotion.
The Blades are counting the cost of defeat to Huddersfield Town in the League One play-off final and manager Danny Wilson is now under orders to reduce the wage bill.
Prize assets Stephen Quinn, Harry Maguire and Matt Lowton are wanted by Championship clubs and goalkeeper Steve Simonson – who missed the crucial penalty in a shoot-out at Wembley – is facing the axe.
McCabe says the Blades will need to rely on younger players next season but is still tipping Wilson to inspire another promotion push.
He has also urged supporters to ‘stick with the club’ despite the disappointment of a second consecutive season in League One.
“We have suffered a setback but we are looking to the future and planning for success,” he said.
“The last two seasons have cost us about £15m. High wage bill, less revenue – and even less revenue next season. It has cost us an awful lot of money, but that’s sport.
“With the new financial fair play rules, we are going to have to work with a lower budget next season. Unless we get the wage bill down next season, we’ll face financial penalties.”
Quinn, Maguire and Lowton are not officially up for sale but McCabe admits that Blades may face a fight to keep their services.
“I’d love to keep hold of them and there is certainly no ‘for sale’ signs on their heads,” he said.
“They have all had great seasons – and we don’t want to lose them – but, obviously, we have a problem if someone comes in and offers them a package we can’t match.”
Swansea City and Aston Villa are expected to lead the chase for Maguire, Quinn is wanted by Blackpool and Charlton Athletic, while Ipswich Town and Cardiff City have been linked with Lowton.
“I expect there will be quite a few changes,” McCabe said. “Logic says we have got some good Academy youngsters who have had a year in the development squad. There are people who I know the staff feel are ready to make the step up and they’ll be given the opportunity together with others who I’m sure will be coming in.”
Goalkeeper George Long heads a queue of teenage talent that also includes Terry Kennedy, Elliott Whitehouse, Joe Ironside, Aaron Barry and Callum McFadzean.
“The aim next season is simple,” stressed McCabe. “Promotion and automatically. The key is to get a stronger squad and, if we get 90 points (again) next season, it will be automatic.”
McCabe issued a rallying call to the Blades supporters who have now endured the agony of six play-off campaigns without success. The Blades also failed to score in a play-off final for the fourth time.
“Our supporters have been fantastic this season and that’s been very much noted and appreciated by all,” he said.
“We hope they stick with us because they are a crucial part of what we are trying to achieve.
“That’s five play-offs we have lost – six if you add the one in the 80s – but that’s not to say we are not going to win the next one. They are one-off games and we have not had the best of luck. We never seem to get the break but next time we will.
“We have fallen at the final hurdle and that hurts. It hurts a lot,” he said.
“It’s the agony and the ecstasy of being involved in football. There is a thin line that determines success and failure. This season we have had great success but, ultimately, it has ended in failure. Circumstances have gone against us.”
Blades goalkeeper Simonsen, meanwhile, is sweating over his future as manager Wilson ponders the best way to trim the wage bill.
Simonsen, 33, described his penalty miss at Wembley as the lowest point in his career and would love the chance to make amends next season.
However, with teenager Long and former Blackpool goalkeeper Mark Howard both on the books, Simonsen – who will be out of contract this summer – could yet be a casualty of the cuts.
“I would love to stay at Sheffield United,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time here so much and, after the way things ended on Saturday, I personally feel as though I need to be back there again to make things right for the football club.”
Simonsen has yet to watch a replay of the moment when his spot-kick sailed over the bar and gave Huddersfield an 8-7 victory on penalties.
“It’s been horrendous. It’s the lowest part of my career,” he added. “Up until that point everything had gone brilliantly. You never expect to be in the situaion I was in. And it will probably never happen again.
“Although I know everything doesn’t come down on my shoulders, deep down, you just feel like it’s all your fault and my kick ended our chances of promotion. I still have a sick feeling in my gut that, ultimately, my penalty kick ended it all.
“On the face of it, I was happy with the job I am paid to do. It was probably one of my most assured displays for Sheffield United at the perfect time, but no one could have predicted what was around the corner,” he added.
“I’ve replayed it a million times in my head but I can’t bear to watch it. Hopefully, in a few weeks time, I might be able to.
“I’m gutted for myself, the club, the fans, all my team-mates, and my family.
“I have got to live with that, but I am big enough and ugly enough to come back from it.”
ian.appleyard@ypn.co.uk
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Print this pageSource: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
Kent likely to sign Mohammad Ashraful for 2012 Friends Life T20 tournament – Cricket News Update - Bettor.com
Kent likely to sign Mohammad Ashraful for 2012 Friends Life T20 tournament – Cricket News Update
Low ranked English county, Kent, is expected to sign former Bangladesh captain, Mohammad Ashraful, for this year’s Friends Life t20 tournament.
The Kent coach, Jimmy Adams, on Monday confirmed reports that the County is keeping an eye on the out of favour Bangladesh batsman.
"We're aware that he's available and that he's in close proximity," Adams said during an interview with BBC Radio Kent.
"A lot of issues to do with T20 are still under discussion, that being one of them. We haven't made a decision," the Kent coach added further.
The 27-year-old middle-order batsman from Dhaka, who has had a poor run of form in international cricket lately, which saw the former Bangladesh skipper not only being dropped from the Asia Cup squad earlier this year but also costed him a central contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Despite struggling for form at the international level, the hard-hitting right-hander has fared well in the domestic Twenty20 tournaments. Playing for Dhaka Gladiators in the inaugural Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year, Ashraful played key role, helping the side lift the trophy.
Currently the middle-order batsman is in England, playing for table topping Blackheath in the Kent League. Last week the belligerent batsman scored a century in a match against Bromley.
"There are always financial considerations to take into mind but at this point, we know he's here, we know what he's capable of and it's an ongoing discussion," said the kent coach, Jimmy Adams.
The 27-year-old Bangladesh batsman, if signs a deal with the Kent county, will join West Indies' Brendan Nash as the second overseas player at the St Lawrence Ground.
There are still two weeks to go in the 2012 Flt20, and Adams feels that both the club as well as the player have enough time to reach a decision.
"In terms of logistics, you have about three or four days before you kick off because of the paperwork that has to go through the ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board]," said the Kent coach.
Ashraful has so far played 51 T20 games scoring 876 runs. His part-time right-arm off-spin has also fetched him 28 T20 wickets.
Source: blogs.bettor.com
Asda to double m-commerce - Marketing Week
Asda hopes to double grocery orders made on mobile devices with the introduction of a revamped digital platform that allows shoppers to switch between desktop, tablet and smartphone devices.
It expects the integration to lead to 12% of its online orders coming through mobile devices by the end of the year - double what it currently takes.
Asda is planning to launch an iPad app later this year, following the launch of iPhone and Android apps and will roll out QR codes on products in store so that customers can get additional product information and read online customer reviews while shopping in-store.
Speaking to Marketing Week last month, Kate Cuthbertson, head of mobile innovation at Asda, talked about the importance of integrating mobile and digital platforms with its store environments.
Asda has also hailed the success of its click and collect operation for extending the range available to shoppers and making it more convenient to buy online. It claims that 40% of all online purchases of non-food items and George clothing are now collected in-store.
Judith McKenna, Asda’s chief operating officer, says: “Gone are the days when we could label a customer as either a traditional or a dotcom shopper. Customers don’t think in terms of channels or devices, they want to shop with ease, compare prices at the touch of a button, and pick up a product or have it delivered with the minimum of fuss. As a result, the world of retailing is being transformed at a remarkable rate and opening up exciting opportunities for retailers like ourselves.
“In addition social media is changing the way that we interact with our customers. Our Facebook fans are the most engaged in retail globally, which means the conversations we are having are equivalent to word of mouth wildfire. This is beginning to make a real difference to our business, in terms of what we sell and how we sell it.”
Source: www.marketingweek.co.uk
Katie Price in Kent special needs free school bid - BBC News
The model Katie Price is among a group of parents who want to set up a free school in Kent for children with visual impairment and other disabilities.
Her 10-year-old son Harvey will be among the pupils if the school is given the go-ahead by the government.
"There are other schools for Harvey but they are not the standard we think [the children] need," she said.
The Royal London Society for the Blind (RLSB) said it wished the free school the best of luck.
The charity runs a school in Kent which Harvey currently attends, but it is due to close.
Ms Price, who lives in West Sussex, has been working with her mother Amy and other parents at Harvey's present school on the bid.
Behaviour problemsAmy Price was among parents who attended a meeting at the Department for Education (DfE) to put their case for government funding. They expect to receive a decision in July.
The parents were advised by human rights lawyers and writer Toby Young, who set up the first free school in Hammersmith, west London, last year.
Ms Price said she believed Harvey needed to be at a special school which could cater for his disabilities.
"I strongly believe that without the support Harvey has had at his school and our help he wouldn't be as forward as he is now," she said.
"You definitely need to stimulate the children in the right way. It is to do with the support - they have speech therapy and they have their music."
She said the proposed school, which would be for children who already have a statement of special educational needs, could have as many as 90 pupils. So far the parents of 45 children have expressed interest.
"Harvey has got so many needs and behaviour problems," said Amy Price. "These are children that no other school can really cater for and offer the education or the therapies they need."
Katie Price said she would not be running the school and did not want to be seen as a figurehead.
"I am a parent," she said. "I haven't used my status at all and I wouldn't because it's not about me, it is about the kids."
But she and her mother said that if the school was approved others could be set up elsewhere in England.
"If this one is successful and we achieve what we want to, we plan to do it around the country, but we have got to start with this one first," said Amy Price.
Families and friendsTom Pey, chief executive of RLSB, said the charity had looked closely at the free school idea.
"We formed the view, based on a lot of experience and a lot of thought, that going out into the communities and educating young children where they can be with their friends, their families and with their communities is far better," he said.
"That is not to say that we have anything against the free school and we are aware that a free school is being thought about.
"We wish that the very best of luck as well because blind young people need all the help they can get."
A DfE spokesman declined to comment.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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