HECKINGBOTTOM OF THE TABLE, BUT TOP OF THE HEAP FOR ANY GOOD MANAGER

Blades’ caretaker boss says his club will attract some of the best in their attempt to bounce back

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PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM says there are managers already knocking on the door to take charge of relegated Sheffield United. The Blades are back in the Championship for next season with six games still to go, the joint-fastest relegation in Premier League history. But caretaker Heckingbottom says Bramall Lane is a major lure for don’t come round very often so there will be people queuing up, people knocking the door down, constantly ringing, constantly trying to get in front of the right people to present themselves to be the man to bring Sheffield United back.”

It ended where it began for United. Beaten on the first day of the season at home to Wolves, they were beaten by them again seven months later.

This was the 16th time the Blades had lost by a single goal and they were in contention for the whole 90 minutes.

Just 20 seconds after Enda Stevens had seen a good chance blocked, Wolves counter-attacked and Adama Traore set up Willian Jose (left) to fire in the winner from six yards (below).

There is not a lot wrong with Sheffield United that a goalscorer wouldn’t solve. Their tally of 17 goals from 32 Premier League games is ridiculously low and is the main reason for their 26 defeats. They signed Rhian

Brewster (above) from Liverpool but it hasn’t worked out.

“I’m not making the decision, but I think it makes sense to make a quick appointment,” added Heckingbottom, who will go back to coaching the Under-23s at the end of the season. “If you want a fresh start, to reinvigorate things, I would expect as soon as the season is finished that announcements will be made.”

While Sheffield United slid down, Norwich came up and Heckingbottom (above, left) recommends following the Canaries model for an instant return.

“Norwich have had a real clear way of how they wanted to achieve things and have been working towards it since they brought in a director of football and the manager,” said Heckingbottom.

“They were adamant they were going to develop their own players, adamant they were going to recruit players, develop them and play a certain style of football. I agree with that approach, that’s what gives Norwich a competitive advantage. It’s good management, good direction and good strategy.

“We can all talk about it, but the skill is in doing it. It’s harder in practice than it is in writing. Everyone has to work in a selfless way, no one can be the one wanting to be in front of the camera, no one can take all the adulation when things are going well.”