Prince, thank you

[petcharlie]

No arguments from me, I never said he was perfect,
And Mr Wilder himself chose to leave the Club, he wasn't sacked ,
but who brought him back. ?

Thankfully he agreed to come back against the wishes of a lot on here ,no doubt they will realise how wrong they were .

 

[Davalon]

Thank you indeed Prince Abdullah.

IMHO the best owner we've had in my lifetime supporting this club.

 

[Bladesman]

Thank you indeed Prince Abdullah.

IMHO the best owner we've had in my lifetime supporting this club.

I'd agree with that totally for the most part. Just hard to overlook last season and then the -2 points but I understand that a lot of the financial shit and upset was caused mostly by COVID.

He has been a lot better than some of those before him.

 

[Tony Currie]

A nice goodbye from him. Overall he has done the best he can with the resources - three sesons in the premiership with the prince not to be sniffed at. Here's his parting statement.

"After months of challenging negotiations, we are pleased to announce that earlier today, United World Group completed the sale of Blades Leisure Limited, the parent of The Sheffield United Football Club Limited, to COH Sports Limited. We wish the new owners every success in leading United to the Premier League and beyond.

We have been involved in the Club since 2013, when we were languishing at the bottom of League One. Six years later, we assumed full ownership and that year won promotion to the Premier League for the first time during our tenure. During its maiden season in the Premier League, United placed 9th on the league table. Our second year in the EPL was beset by COVID and relegation but by the end of the 2022/23 season, we were back in the EPL and reached the semi-final of the FA Cup for the second time. We are once again atop the table 4 points clear of automatic promotion and poised to achieve promotion to the Premier League.

While the Club has experienced ups and downs on the pitch in recent years, we leave the Lane knowing that the Club has never been stronger than it is right now. Our investments in the Academy and young talent have all come together this season to see us sitting atop the table with an average squad age of 23 years and 9 months and a squad full of international players. Our revenues have increased 10-fold and all of our real estate assets are under the Club's umbrella. Less apparent to fans but vitally important for the future of the Club are the investments we have made in fixed assets. The hotel has been entirely refurbished and brought into compliance with safety codes and is now under Hilton management. After years of trying, we have succeeded in buying Cutlers' Corner and Boundary Corner and now own the entire Bramall Lane footprint. The Club has also purchased a new training ground in the highly desirable Dore neighbourhood of Sheffield. The new First Team Training Ground will accommodate a new first team building as well as four full pitches, six 5x5 pitches and other facilities. This acquisition will enable the Academy to qualify for Cat I status, another important milestone in the long-term growth of the Club.

We depart with mixed feelings. There are many things we won't miss. Owning and managing a football club is much more challenging than you might imagine. We shall, however, miss the wonderful and devoted staff at the Lane who selflessly keep our Club running smoothly day-in and day-out and who create a safe environment for you to enjoy matches. We'll miss the coaches and trainers who have supported us, challenged us and helped us bring winning teams to the Lane and to keep them healthy. We'll also miss the players, who have excited us and brought us so many memorable moments. Most of all, however, we'll miss you, the fans. A club is nothing without its fans and the greatness of our Blades is a testament to your loyalty and support. Owners and boards come and go but you persist, vibrating the Lane with The Greasy Chip Butty Song and bringing down the Kop with every Blades goal scored.

We're filled with gratitude and appreciation that you have allowed us into your house these past few years. UTB!


HRH Prince Abdullah bin Mosa'ad
Owner

Yusuf Giansiracusa
Chairman

 

[mickle-blade]

I want to thank PA for steadying the ship and giving us a bit of success.I don,t doubt that he did his best for us and leaves us in a far better place than when he left.
As for players leaving………he couldn’t make them sign new contracts when they were offered

 

[Selly]

Even when we did go down, Heckingbottom managed to drag us up again despite the absolute chaos behind the scenes: transfer bans, points deductions, cost cutting, then the Prince cashing in on our best players after we went up.

Under prior regimes the bit in bold would have happened right after we went down, or the following January. that it didn't is of credit to the owner at the time*



*of course what we now know is that this was a massive gamble, and had we not gone up we were completely f**ked - but the flip side is that selling those two players probably wouldn`t have un-f**ked us

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

I'd agree with that totally for the most part. Just hard to overlook last season and then the -2 points but I understand that a lot of the financial shit and upset was caused mostly by COVID.

He has been a lot better than some of those before him.

I agree. I believe the negatives of his reign include the contract situations with players, the sharing of sensitive information with random fans, our United World transfers after Wilder's departure, and the -2 points deduction.

Wilder is the person who put this club back on the map. He led us out of League One by building a street-smart team of captains and winners.

The Prince deserves credit for bringing Wilder back. I believe that if the Prince were wealthier, he would have supported us more in the transfer windows.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

An excellent "goodbye" from Abdullah. I have been critical, but he's left us in far better shape than he found us in.
Cheers Abdullah, onwards and upwards!! UTB!!

 

[Carlton Blade]

Seemed like a decent enough bloke (especially being from that family). I question lots of his strategic decisions but he spent what the club had and didn't take money out for himself. Ultimately not wealthy or innovative enough to make it work long term but I do believe he gave a shit.

GLTTL. Oversized polo shirt manufacturers around the world rejoice

 

[Bladesman]

Under prior regimes the bit in bold would have happened right after we went down, or the following January. that it didn't is of credit to the owner at the time*



*of course what we now know is that this was a massive gamble, and had we not gone up we were completely f**ked - but the flip side is that selling those two players probably wouldn`t have un-f**ked us

The likes of Sander Berge get sold immediately under a McCabe regime and let's be reyt a Sander Berge isn't bought in the first place under a McCabe regime.

 

[AWetFlannel]

Did a decent job.

Always did what was best for himself. Often that benefited the club, sometimes it harmed us. No different to any other owner I know, which is why they should all be removed from the game.

 

[kingy1889]

From where we were when he bought us, to where we are now.....

Thank you.

 

[N20 Blade]

In the eleven years of his tenure, two things strike me.

1. United are in a healthier place on and off the pitch now than then.
2. The financial realities of football are in a different stratosphere to when he arrived, and show no signs of slowing down. Back in the day (1990s) Jack Walker bought the league at Rovers. Today, that type of investment is all but useless. The Prince didn't / doesn't have the money needed to compete at the top level, but that's not his fault.

 

[moody1889]

I am sure we have all had a whinge and a whine about the Prince at times I am not going to sit here and say I haven't nor say I haven't been angry at times especially after last seasons shit show.

But overall he has been a good owner and done far more for the club than many other owners have done over the years.

So thank you Prince Abdullah and all the best to you going forward.

 

[Norwood's 6 iron]

We shouldn't underestimate the importance of what the Prince has done behind the scenes.
Bringing the whole of the football ground under a single ownership, the purchase of the hotel and most importantly the new training ground he leaves us in a far better place than when he arrived. You only need to look at the clubs that don't have that stable base to realise what a mess they can get into. Coventry and Leeds being prime examples.
PA was also the person responsible for bringing Wilder in from Northampton. Hardly a headline making move at the time, but we all know how well it all worked out.
Yes, there has been problems, some his fault some not, but overall the good times far out weigh the bad and out of the 92 teams in the football league there aren't many that have had the success that we have experienced since he took over.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

When the Prince arrived, I don’t think many of us could have imagined a decade as good as it has been. We have won more promotions than relegations, have a young squad with a successful Academy, the identity of the club has been respected, and for season-ticket holders, youngsters, OAP’s, women, minorities, there have been efforts to encourage the fan base. I have enjoyed the last decade at the Lane as much or more than most preceding decades (since the 1950s). In a rapidly changing world I hope the new owners enjoy at least as much success in these aspects of the game.

 

[robbiez666]

I think it's easy to be complacent now we're in the middle of a period of relative success, but I'll forever have nightmares of being stuck in League 1. Not to mention being relegated to division 3.

You can pull apart much of the off-the-pitch stuff but he did back Wilder (a little too freely) when we went up the first time. I doubt we'd have had this success under Kev.

So, thank you. Part of creating a lot of memories. Mostly good, but some bad as well.

 

[Montymagic]

All the best to the prince and thank you.

 

[Montymagic]

MSUGA ! *

* Not that we have ever been great granted but you get the jist....

 

[Proper Blade]

Under prior regimes the bit in bold would have happened right after we went down, or the following January. that it didn't is of credit to the owner at the time*



*of course what we now know is that this was a massive gamble, and had we not gone up we were completely f**ked - but the flip side is that selling those two players probably wouldn`t have un-f**ked us

Yeah, I'm not buying the whole 'well at least he wasn't as bad as Chairman X' line. I don't care what other chairmen would have done. Selling our best two players (who are currently doing alright for themselves in the Prem) was idiotic then and it's idiotic now.

 

[Frank the tank]

Yeah, I'm not buying the whole 'well at least he wasn't as bad as Chairman X' line. I don't care what other chairmen would have done. Selling our best two players (who are currently doing alright for themselves in the Prem) was idiotic then and it's idiotic now.

It wasn't though was it.?
Not really

 

[Mendi]

Thanks for everything

 

[SB_90]

would like to thank the prince. yes we had our lows but we've also had huge success, just to think of 2 he kept ST prices low. mine has gone up £140 in 12 yrs & his was heart was always in the right place, regardless of what we thought his decisions were right or wrong. he made unpopular decisions that have aged well. look at the last 2 managerial appointments. hecky & wilder were at the time very unpopular decisions. but turned out to be be huge successes

on the princes money issues that have been used as an insult in his time. is for me more what is wrong with football. than wrong with him. if for most part more owners tried live within their means & didnt spend money they didnt have. football wouldnt be the ticking financial time bomb it currently is

 

[BigBed]

THANKYOU!!

Doesn't seem enough for everything youve done for the club, but its all we can offer unfortunately.
It's been a pleasure to witness what you have done and how far the club has come under your ownership.
In my 45yrs as a Blade, I can honestly say, that you have given me, and I expect, most Blades, such amazing memories, some real highs, and also huge pride to have been part of it all!!

I for one, would like to wish you and your family, all the very best for the future, and hope you will continue to visit the Lane, for many years to come, where I'm sure you will be warmly welcomed by all!

Have a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025!
And once again.....

THANKYOU!!

 

[jt64]

Cheers. Has he been the best owner possible? Nope. Has been the worst owner we could have? Certainly not. Has he left SUFC in a better place than when he came in? I think so, and that's all you really want from an owner

 

[crazyblade1889]

Yeah, I'm not buying the whole 'well at least he wasn't as bad as Chairman X' line. I don't care what other chairmen would have done. Selling our best two players (who are currently doing alright for themselves in the Prem) was idiotic then and it's idiotic now.

This has been covered many times before. We could have kept hold of Berge and Ndiaye for a season and then after we had been relegated they would have left for nothing. We bought Hamer and Souza with the money on long term contracts. Good business!

 

[jt64]

This has been covered many times before. We could have kept hold of Berge and Ndiaye for a season and then after we had been relegated they would have left for nothing

That is, of course, assuming we were relegated

 

[DronnieBlade]

Yes.

A mighty big thank you for investing the grand total of £X in to the club and departing with (insert multiple of choice) £X.

Milan Mandaric sends his admiration !!

UTB

 

[BlairBlade]

THANKYOU!!

Doesn't seem enough for everything youve done for the club, but its all we can offer unfortunately.
It's been a pleasure to witness what you have done and how far the club has come under your ownership.
In my 45yrs as a Blade, I can honestly say, that you have given me, and I expect, most Blades, such amazing memories, some real highs, and also huge pride to have been part of it all!!

I for one, would like to wish you and your family, all the very best for the future, and hope you will continue to visit the Lane, for many years to come, where I'm sure you will be warmly welcomed by all!

Have a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2025!
And once again.....

THANKYOU!!

I could not agree more - I have been supporting United for over 65 years.

The very best to you in the future.

 

[crazyblade1889]

Yes.

A mighty big thank you for investing the grand total of £X in to the club and departing with (insert multiple of choice) £X.

Milan Mandaric sends his admiration !!

UTB

Yes the club is worth more 1st in the Championship than it was 24th in League 1. Shock! Without the Prince we would be worth a fraction of what we are worth now and he rightly deserves something for that.