Sheffield is home to two massive clubs, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday – but both teams seem to be on the decline. Sheffield United currently find themselves in the relegation zone in the Championship and Sheffield Wednesday are in the lower end of the table in League One. Yet, both clubs have strong fan bases and stadiums that can house over 30,000 fans.

Although, I would never suggest that luck plays no part in football, I think the situation these clubs find themselves in is about more than just a bit of bad luck. However, football can turn around very quickly and a successful side can quickly become a side in trouble. Sheffield Wednesday in particular have a history of enjoying an extended period in the Premier League, but this was now quite a long time ago and their attempts to get back there nearly put the club out of business. It took a last minute buy out deal by the current chairman, Milan Mandaric to save the club.

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Sheffield United has enjoyed the more recent flirts with the Premier League with an appearance in the 2006-07 season. Neil Warnock was the manager and they were relegated in 18th place and the club were then rocked further with the resignation of Warnock. Another issue that I don’t believe helped the club much was the fight they took on over Carlos Tevez and West Ham. The constant appeals and legal action did not help the club and in many ways has contributed to the mess they are now in.

The spell that Gary Speed recently had as manager was mixed in fortunes, but it may not help to lose your manager to Wales and then have to appoint another manager. The current Sheffield United manager is Micky Adams and he has had a difficult start, but is gradually showing signs of turning the club around.

Both Sheffield clubs have had their fair share of problems and appear to be a long way off being major forces in English football again in the near future. Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday have been through too many managers in recent seasons and that never helps a side become successful. Sheffield Wednesday in particular have had their share of financial problems, but this is also true of Sheffield United in the past. United have had some off the field distractions and perhaps haven’t invested in the team in the wisest fashion; an example of this was when they spent £3 million on Ched Evans, when they perhaps should have spread that money out amongst the squad.

However, I think both clubs are now in better hands. Milan Mandaric has plenty of experience in football and should ensure the club is well managed at board level and Gary Megson is a good manager with plenty of experience. Sheffield United should also feel they are going in the right direction with Micky Adams as their manager. I would be concerned by the amount of loan players both clubs have, because going forward they need to invest in their own squads.

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