Sneinton Blade 1952
Member
- Banned
- #1
Despite scepticism from McCabe apologists on here, most vehemently in my case from SBT, I feel that this man is most responsible for our dire plight and that the reason for this is evidenced in what I feel is an erudite analysis of his intentions at United offered by Bell and Armstrong in their book ‘Fit and Proper’ (2010). We have always in my lifetime of supporting the Blades been a selling club – I experienced this particularly at the time chairman Wragg sanctioned the sale of the best centre forward I ever saw in a Blades’ shirt – Mick Jones – for a paltry £100K to Leeds; a sale the excellent Peter Howard, Blades’ reporter at the Star then, eloquently opposed for meaning the systemic selling of our ‘best’ for ‘inferior’ replacements. What seems to have changed under McCabe is, like capitalism under neoliberalism, this systemic process has been exacerbated: the sale of both Kyles at the same time setting the precedent for a process that has continued through to Che Adams (I’m less inclined to include Brayford here, who seems to have clearly lost his love of us). What Bell and Armstrong suggest seems to chime with my feelings. Under McCabe, “Sheffield United had become merely a subsidiary of [his] worldwide business empire. United were essentially a 21st century ‘factory team’ and, as Jason Rockett revealed in 2009, the footballing arm of an international property development company. Many British football clubs are owned by overseas investors but, uniquely, McCabe used his football to promote his global business interests” (page 378 SBT, in case you want to re-read this). According to Bell and Armstrong, none of McCabe’s ventures – Ferencvaros, Chengdu Five Bull, Central Coast Mariners (I would maybe add the purchase of our stadium, training facilities, hotel development?) – appeared to benefit the football team. Indeed, for example, “McCabe reportedly became personally wealthier to the tune of £150 million from the Valed deal [part of the Central Coast Mariners’ deal) … “ (page 378). How SBT has the audacity to claim my representation of Bell and Armstrong’s assessment of McCabe is false is beyond belief – unless he is a cousin. What is more concerning, however, is that, given this assessment of McCabe – and what I feel is a plausible explanation of our current plight – what’s to be done to end his reign at the Lane, given his current stranglehold over the club? What seems certain is that, unless he changes his priorities immediately, and supports Wilder with the financial resources to bring in some quality in the next week, we are heading for the fourth tier in a handcart …
