Sheffield United sack Nigel Clough as manager

Sheffield United have sacked manager Nigel Clough, after failing to gain promotion from League One. The club released a statement on it’s official website, to give more clarity on the decision.

“A change in direction was necessary for the forthcoming season.

“The search for the club’s new first-team manager will now start and it is hoped this will result in identifying and recruiting the right candidate within a relatively short period of time.

“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Nigel, as well as his backroom staff.”

Clough joined the Blades, following previous spells at Burton Albion, before following in the footsteps of his late father Brian, to take over as manager of Derby County.

Having been unable to steer the South Yorkshire club out of League One, despite a fairly positive season, which included a good run in the Capital One Cup where they reached the semi-finals, the decision was made by the board to relieve the former England international striker of his duties.

The Blades are now facing a fifth consecutive year in the third tier of English football, having once been in the top flight. It was hoped that Clough would be able to take the club up through the play-offs, however they were beaten over two legs in the semi-finals by Swindon Town, who then lost emphatically to Preston North End in a 4-0 drubbing.

After the club’s 7-6 aggregate defeat to Swindon, Clough wasn’t exactly forthcoming over his future, saying the decision rest with other people.

“You need to talk to somebody else about that, that’s not my decision is it,” he said. “I don’t give it a second thought, if it happens it happens, that’s part and parcel of football.

“I am manager of Sheffield United today, it’s not my decision, it’s up to other people,” he continued.