The American owners of Sheffield United have failed to deny reports that they made contact with the administrators handling the sale of their bitter city rivals, Sheffield Wednesday.
Fury Over Merger Inquiry
This development comes after Daily Mail Sport revealed that Begbies Traynor, the firm tasked with selling Sheffield Wednesday, had received five formal bids. Shockingly, they also fielded an inquiry about the staggering prospect of a potential merger between the two South Yorkshire clubs, an idea that was promptly dismissed.
It later emerged that COH Sports, the group that has controlled Sheffield United for 12 turbulent months, was the entity that had been in touch with the administrators. This revelation sparked immediate and inevitable fury among the fanbases of both historic clubs.
Owner's Letter Fails to Address Scandal
In an attempt to quell the growing anger, COH Sports issued a letter to Sheffield United supporters this morning. However, the communication conspicuously failed to directly address the matter of the contact with Wednesday's administrators.
Instead, the letter focused on the team's 3-0 victory in the Steel City derby at Hillsborough last Sunday. The ownership group, which has had a tumultuous year including sacking and then reinstating manager Chris Wilder, admitted disappointment with the season's start.
They stated, "Like you, we are obviously disappointed with our start to the season. Even more so when this season is viewed in the context of how close we were to securing promotion back to the Premier League last May."
Commitment Questioned Amidst Turmoil
The letter went on to assert the owners' determination to bring Premier League football back to Bramall Lane and their continued commitment to the Blades. "But be under no illusion: bringing regular Premier League football to Sheffield United is why we are here," the statement read.
They described the club's journey as a "marathon, not a sprint" and outlined goals for smart recruitment and commercial development. However, the failure to confront the direct issue of the administrator contact leaves a significant question mark over their intentions and the future of the two separate clubs.
Whether this carefully worded statement will be enough to appease furious supporters remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday hope to enter a period of exclusivity with a buyer by December 5.
