White Rose is blooming

YORKSHIRE is fighting back a century on from being the Northern powerhouse of the game.

We could be looking for at least one extra Premier League club from the White Rose county next season.

Huddersfield and Sheffield United – four league titles and five FA Cup wins between them, dating back 100 years and more – are in the mix to be in the high stakes Championship play-off games.

And with Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday on the up from League One to the Championship, and Leeds likely – although not certain – to survive in the top flight, one of the hotbeds of football is sizzling.

The spotlight is on the battle for Premier League promotion, and the Blades and Terriers have shown there are contrasting ways to do it. But if you have a plan, stick to it.

Paul Heckingbotton (below) was passed over for the top job at Bramall Lane after a caretaker spell when Chris Wilder left in March last year.

He was shortlisted for the permanent position but ‘promotion specialist’ and ex-fulham chief Slavisa Jokanovic was appointed. It didn’t work.

Under-23s coach Heckingbottom was quickly reappointed in November 2021 and has knitted together a top-six bid.

At Huddersfield, Carlos Corberan’s highenergy, fierce pressing style took a season to get going.

At first it looked alien and ill-fitting, but now they are a well-honed, fitter outfit who look best placed to cash in and go up.

Corberan, who worked under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds, has grown into a sparky head coach – animated and influential on the touchline – with a modern style that could go far.