, UPDATED: Sheffield United sack Nigel Clough

UPDATED: Sheffield United sack Nigel Clough

NB: Nigel Clough was sacked yesterday (Monday), this is an updated version.

After just one and a half years in charge, Sheffield United are parting ways with Nigel Clough.

The move comes as somewhat as a surprise – appointed in October 2013 when the club were in the relegation zone, he lead them to a seventh placed finish and an FA Cup Semi Final, with a League Cup Semi Final and fifth this year. However, it appears that promotion was the expectation, and after The Blades were knocked out of the Play-offs in a thrilling tie with Swindon the club viewed his position as untenable.

Promotion should not have been an overly optimistic target for United, who boast one of, if not the strongest side in League One alongside a relatively big budget and a rich history. However, the club are a long way from their glory days of the Premier League now, as the Semi-Final Play-off defeat confirmed that they’d be spending a fifth successive season in the third flight of English football.

The timing of the move is odd, however, as they knew that they’d be plying their trade in League One next season two weeks ago. By waiting so long before making a decision, it could suggest that the club already have a manager in mind, and wanted to make sure that an agreement could be reached before terminating Clough, who may have been seen as the alternative if their first choice fell through.

The early odds from Skybet have Darren Ferguson, Nigel Adkins and Gus Poyet as the frontrunners, but don’t rule out someone like Mark Warburton, who left Brentford due to disagreement over the heavy role chairman Matthew Benham wanted analytics to play.

Whoever the new manager is, they’ll be expected to instantly produce for an expectant fan base. If not, they’ll be following Clough out the door.

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