Column: McCabe's symbolic show of faith in Sheffield United boss Adkins
Across the table from Kevin McCabe I hear these words on the subject of Nigel Adkins: “I’d love to believe he’ll be with us for five years!”
This from a man who has employed eight managers, excluding caretakers, in the nine years since Sheffield United exited the Premier League. It’s a startling statement from the Blades co-chairman and, looking into his eyes, I’m sure a genuine one.
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Hide AdBut not perhaps as significant as the basic pledge that, barring something totally catastrophic, Adkins will be in charge next season.
Now that’s what I call truly symbolic - an acknowledgment, finally, that this club can’t keep sacking managers.
“One doesn’t want to change them,” said long-time owner McCabe. “Nigel was chosen for a reason and we believe he’s the right man.”
The “five-year” wish merely embroidered the “definite intention” to maintain the status quo.
It won’t be what some want to hear, of course.
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Hide AdAdkins and his players should not be scrambling to get into the play-offs.
A section have called for his head.
Yet I’m convinced the majority agree on what got United into this League One intertia and, yes, for five years too.
And talking of agreement, McCabe is echoing what co-chair Jim Phipps, Prince Abdullah’s aide, previously told this column on Adkins, so the joint owners are together on a fundamental issue despite those rumours of a rift.
Probing this point, I asked McCabe if the Prince, after investing £15m for no reward so far, is prepared to put in more.
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Hide Ad“Circumstances can change,” he answered, not committing either way which leaves a doubt for now.
“But we work in harmony.
“We may have our differences but we are good friends.
“We argue but we don’t fall out. I assure you the Prince’s pleasure in life is about seeing us succeed.”
While United’s Saudi backer is currently “as frustrated as I am,” McCabe remains fully committed to the extent of his family’s £90m input.
He talks of not repeating past mistakes and makes a major confession over his most controversial axing, the dismissal of Danny Wilson while a second successive promotion bid was still in progress three years ago.
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Hide Ad“I regret that one - Danny’s a good manager,” said McCabe of the current Chesterfield boss.
That “one” means he doesn’t necessarily regret others, including the ousting of the relatively very successful Nigel Clough, who returns with League One leaders Burton next Tuesday.
Without pinpointing, McCabe said there were “other reasons” beyond results, adding: “One of the problems with Nigel was we gave him too much money.”
Which can equally be taken as a self-criticism and clearly also a reference to McCabe’s belief that too many players of similar quality have been recruited in the recent past.
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Hide AdHe rates this the club’s biggest mistake and insists that future arrivals, in a “very important” summer window, “add value to the squad.” For Adkins, controls have clearly tightened.
Personally, I still think the judgment on Clough was very harsh on his record. Maybe Adkins will get the benefit of the reflective mood.
Not before time maybe but removing managerial uncertainty from the agenda has to be a move in the right direction.
As is McCabe fronting up to the challenges facing a club to which his commitment has always been fierce and total.