Sheffield merger

[Addison]

This reads to me as two separate things - that COH made an initial call (potentially out of curiosity regarding price, as others have alluded to) and that one of the many interested parties was interested merging the clubs. I'm not sure it's nailed on that the latter was COH.

Either way, COH should release a statement about it before the story gains too much negative traction. We've just stuffed the pigs at their gaff and we're on a bit of a high, the likes of which we haven't seen this season because it's been so poor. We don't need this bollocks.

If anything it'll be nice to hear from them, won't it.

They've responded in part

Message from the co-chairmen

The place to get all your Sheffield United news on the first team, academy and Sheffield United Women. Download the app via the App Store and Google Play Store

www.sufc.co.uk

 

[Dkc]

FLW have even mocked up a new crest for clicks and giggles.

 

[Keen Blade]

A fully merged club is an anathema to most fans on both sides.
But selling both antiquated grounds to produce a 21st century stadium for "ground-sharing" surely makes sense.
Immediately reducing the running costs of both clubs
But more importantly
The only avenue available to drag both out of the doldrums and put Sheffield on the football map again.
If it was good enough for Milan ...

But then again , you're battling with the backward "let's not try owt new" mentality , endemic in Sheffield.

 

[Chunkey]

The poll is hard to answer without knowing the intended details. There’s not much that is worthwhile ‘taking’ from Wednesday, so a merger would just be us having to inherit their fanbase, of which a decent proportion appear to be incredibly stupid.

At least they could supply a completely fictional/made up back storey, to create a 'faux' history for this new club, one that would become fact after a few decades.

 

[TJB.]

They've responded in part

Message from the co-chairmen

The place to get all your Sheffield United news on the first team, academy and Sheffield United Women. Download the app via the App Store and Google Play Store

www.sufc.co.uk

Not quite a statement about the story, though.

Having read it, it's not really a statement about anything at all

 

[Snowflake]

Not quite a statement about the story, though.

Having read it, it's not really a statement about anything at all

It is a statement as many were requesting. How genuine is for each of us to assess.

 

[Addison]

Not quite a statement about the story, though.

Having read it, it's not really a statement about anything at all

Agree their response would seem to be a reaction to the story but fails to address the critical question. Did you or didnt you? As a minimum it highlights the narrative about the Derby win and dumbs down our S6 neighbours clutching at straws assertion that our owners actions have taken the gloss off our historic victory.

 

[Bladesman]

FLW have even mocked up a new crest for clicks and giggles.

View attachment 226250

An owl being poked in the arse with a sword.

 

[Wards]

A fully merged club is an anathema to most fans on both sides.
But selling both antiquated grounds to produce a 21st century stadium for "ground-sharing" surely makes sense.
Immediately reducing the running costs of both clubs
But more importantly
The only avenue available to drag both out of the doldrums and put Sheffield on the football map again.
If it was good enough for Milan ...

But then again , you're battling with the backward "let's not try owt new" mentality , endemic in Sheffield.

I said the same in SB last night. Most will dismiss it out of hand but it will make sense one day. I stress the 'one day' element because it probably makes little sense for us as things stand. It needs both clubs to be on something of an equal footing I'd think.

 

[Sheffsteel]

A fully merged club is an anathema to most fans on both sides.
But selling both antiquated grounds to produce a 21st century stadium for "ground-sharing" surely makes sense.
Immediately reducing the running costs of both clubs
But more importantly
The only avenue available to drag both out of the doldrums and put Sheffield on the football map again.
If it was good enough for Milan ...

But then again , you're battling with the backward "let's not try owt new" mentality , endemic in Sheffield.

Agree…..Sheffielders absolutely hate change and new fangled ambitious ideas.

Would love it…..just out of interest. This is made up fantasy but imagine
if a consortium of American billionaires approached both Sheffield clubs with intentions to merge to form a super club.

However they agreed that it probably won’t be accepted …..so explained they plan to arrange an official on-line vote amongst all SU and SW season tickets holders.

A few weeks before the vote they release a 15 minute presentation video.

The video states they intend to sell off both grounds and buy the Sheffield Arena and surrounding land/ car park space.
They then plan to build a 65,000 capacity stadium on the Sheffield Arena site and buy land for large car park spaces around Attercliffe
And intend to work with the council to have regularly continuous super tram links from town on match days. They also design the stadium to bring plenty of non football related income all year round by regularly hosting concerts, banqueting and conference events.

They make it clear that they are ultra ambitious and are determined to have a team regularly competing in Europe and challenging for honours.
They plan to promote the history of Sheffield as the home of football by buiding a large museum (which would become a tourist attraction) at the stadium site close to the tram stop and they even say they can promote Sheffield’s status by calling the new stadium the “The Home of Football stadium”. They might even try to buy Sheffield FC and use their name claiming the new super club club is the oldest in the world. Who knows? Where there’s a will there’s a way.

If an extremely exciting plan that would create shockwaves and massive publicity in the football world was a possibility.

Then what percentage of season tickets holders would say “nah….not having that”.
Suspect it would be 75%…..so would be rejected.

 

[Roygbiv]

Business wise it makes complete sense and whoever takes over Wednesday will think the same. It's two big clubs with large fanbases who have achieved next to nothing for 100 years. It's totally understandable why someone from the outside would think a merger would lead to more success than keeping us apart as separate clubs.

The only way it would happen though is if the Super League happens and both clubs eventually become semi professional. I don't think it will ever happen but it's not completely out of the realms of possibility that in 50 years, the foreign owners of both clubs come together to create a new club. So much has happened in the game since the start of The Premier League they I wouldn't rule anything out

 

[HarryHaslam]

It was a sad day back in the 1860s when SU cricket club directors fell out with The Wednesday football club which resulted in Wendy leaving BL and going to play at Olive Grove Road initially.

Sorry for being pedantic but they never left BL, all they did was stop renting it out for the big games as the rent was put up in 1887 and was too steep for them. But during this time when they did rent BL for the bigger games their official home ground was Sheaf House and Hunters Bar so they never actually left BL as it was never their ground.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Sorry for being pedantic but they never left BL, all they did was stop renting it out for the big games as the rent was put up in 1887 and was too steep for them. But during this time when they did rent BL for the bigger games their official home ground was Sheaf House and Hunters Bar so they never actually left BL as it was never their ground.

Agree….The Wednesday only used Bramall Lane (which was mainly a cricket ground) for odd games when they expected a big attendance.

The owners of Bramall Lane saw the potential growth of football as a Winter sport so approached The Wednesday asking them to be permanent occupiers
and they refused due to the rental costs being too high.

So the owners of Bramall Lane had little choice but to form a new football club….with the sole intention of playing at Bramall Lane.
At the time there were over 50 other clubs in the Sheffield area…sominvitations were sent out inviting trials to play for Sheffield United FC.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I am 77 years old. I first went to BL when I was 5. Our family are 5 generations of Blades. In my lifetime United have won no major trophy. I really dislike Wendy and find the derby games nerve wracking. Last Sunday was fab though.
I want to us to have 60000 fans and be one of the big boys in the PL and Champions L. I am sick of mediocrity .
I would support a merged Sheffield club playing in a new stadium in red white and blue stripes.
At my age I don’t suppose I would see it .Sheffield is a big football city but has two mediocre teams. It was a sad day back in the 1860s when SU cricket club directors fell out with The Wednesday football club which resulted in Wendy leaving BL and going to play at Olive Grove Road initially.
I know the merger won’t happen but if it did and had a very rich owner, then with success everyone would come around to it. As it is though we will continue along with Wendy to win sod all for the next 100 years.
Tin hat on now.

If you want to watch a successful club in a sterile atmosphere you can simply get a train to Manchester or London.

 

[joe casey]

Agree…..Sheffielders absolutely hate change and new fangled ambitious ideas.

Would love it…..just out of interest. This is made up fantasy but imagine
if a consortium of American billionaires approached both Sheffield clubs with intentions to merge to form a super club.

However they agreed that it probably won’t be accepted …..so explained they plan to arrange an official on-line vote amongst all SU and SW season tickets holders.

A few weeks before the vote they release a 15 minute presentation video.

The video states they intend to sell off both grounds and buy the Sheffield Arena and surrounding land/ car park space.
They then plan to build a 65,000 capacity stadium on the Sheffield Arena site and buy land for large car park spaces around Attercliffe
And intend to work with the council to have regularly continuous super tram links from town on match days. They also design the stadium to bring plenty of non football related income all year round by regularly hosting concerts, banqueting and conference events.

They make it clear that they are ultra ambitious and are determined to have a team regularly competing in Europe and challenging for honours.
They plan to promote the history of Sheffield as the home of football by buiding a large museum (which would become a tourist attraction) at the stadium site close to the tram stop and they even say they can promote Sheffield’s status by calling the new stadium the “The Home of Football stadium”. They might even try to buy Sheffield FC and use their name claiming the new super club club is the oldest in the world. Who knows? Where there’s a will there’s a way.

If an extremely exciting plan that would create shockwaves and massive publicity in the football world was a possibility.

Then what percentage of season tickets holders would say “nah….not having that”.
Suspect it would be 75%…..so would be rejected.

I don't know quite why - and I understand the business reasons why all of the above would make sense - but part of the reason I love Sheffield united is because for the most part, we are quite shit.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

They wouldn't be allowed to purchase them due to a conflict of interest in already owning us, regardless of possible future plans to merge. It's a non-starter in terms of passing the EFL criteria.

Don't worry. No conflict.
The plan is to register the pigs for the massive potential of the North Africa Super League. 500 million potential fans.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I don't know quite why - and I understand the business reasons why all of the above would make sense - but part of the reason I love Sheffield united is because for the most part, we are quite shit.

Made me laugh that because it’s true.

I’m the same…I’d still support us and regularly attend matches even if we were in league 2. If we ever become like Man City it would be weird, it wouldn’t be Sheff Utd.

However as I’ve grown older altho I’m a Unitedite I’m also a proud Sheffielder and become aware of Sheffield’s standing in the media and football world.

I’ve seen how Sheffield has dwindled and is disrespected as mediocre with no meaningful future.

So part of me would love to see Sheffield back on the football map and be recognised as a major player. Also think it’s criminal how the media refer to Wembley as the home of football and how the FA cup was the worlds 1st cup competition when the worlds 1st leagues and cup competitions started on Sheffied. A deligate from Sheffield went down to London to help and encourage the FA to start the FA cup. Sheffield has the 1st paying customers in the world charging fans an admission price in the Cromwell Cup.

The media talk about Leeds United being a historical club with a huge fanbase but it’s no comparison to Sheffield.