BLADES WAR

Former chairman hits back at ‘malicious’ lie

FORMER Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe is considering legal action against his successors at the club over a ‘highly misleading’ statement which triggered online threats and abuse.

The Blades issued a statement on Wednesday evening accusing McCabe, who still owns Bramall Lane, of trying to force them out of the stadium in order to cash in on the site’s residential value.

It prompted outrage from supporters and a torrent of online vitriol — including one who wished the 71-year-old to contract ‘the good old Covid’ — aimed at a family which has invested more than £100million in the club over more than 25 years of service.

McCabe, a lifelong Blades fans, was devastated and hit back last night, insisting it had been the Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah who pulled out of an agreement struck in January to buy a package of properties, which included the stadium.

He said the prince reneged on the deal by trying to buy the properties through an unspecified third party and claimed the club statement released on Wednesday amounted to a ‘malicious falsehood’.

His lawyers will demand the statement is removed.

‘There are a number of things that Blades fans should know,’ said a spokesman for McCabe. ‘It was Abdullah who reneged, not Kevin. The prince wanted Kevin to transfer the stadium to an unidentified third party at the last minute and Kevin felt this was not appropriate, and could jeopardise the future of the stadium as United’s home ground.

‘Mr McCabe has been a lifelong supporter of the Blades and has routinely provided additional cash from his own pocket whenever the club needed it. He has guaranteed obligations of the club without hesitation.’

McCabe also accused Prince Abdullah of failing to finance the club properly and said the club had failed to repay him a debt of £100,000 until an official demand had been sent.

These are the closing stages of a bitter power struggle in which Prince Abdullah seized control of Sheffield United in the High Court last year, soon after they were promoted to the Premier League.

McCabe was forced to sell his half of the club to his co-owner for £5m, but the prince was told he must also buy a package of properties which include the stadium at Bramall Lane and the training ground at market value before July.

The deal struck in principle in January also included two plots at Bramall Lane which are owned by McCabe, but not included in the court order.