Exclusive: Sheff Utd Legend Kenny Predicts Bright Future for Blades Under New Ownership

Sheffield United’s new owners could not have arrived at a better time, Bramall Lane favourite Paddy Kenny has insisted, after predicting a strong January transfer window can propel the club back into the Premier League.

COH Sports, a consortium of US based investors, acquired 100 percent of the Championship club’s shares just before Christmas following protracted talks with former owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Mosa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Although Chris Wilder’s side returned to winning ways by beating Watford last weekend following a frustrating sequence of results over the festive period, injuries to key performers including on-loan duo Harry Souttar and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi have left the 57-year-old’s squad exposed with Yorkshire rivals Leeds and Burnley now occupying the two automatic promotion slots.

But Kenny is convinced that United can reclaim pole position in the race for top-flight football providing they bolster their options before the market closes again early next month.

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom, he said: “Whenever a takeover happens, the new people in charge usually want to make some sort of statement and have money available."

“Personally, I think the timing of this one is perfect, it couldn’t have happened at a better time, because United clearly want to strengthen in a few areas and they need to as well."

“I know from experience that you can’t underestimate the importance of improving what you’ve got when you’re in a good position - which the lads clearly are right now, despite dropping a few points of late."

“Genuinely, it can make such a big difference and that’s why I think the new owners have come in at just the right time.”

Kenny, now aged 46, made over 300 appearances for United and was named their player of the year during the 2002-03 season. 

As well as being awarded seven Republic of Ireland caps, he also represented Leeds and Queens Park Rangers; helping the Londoners achieve Premier League status nearly two decades ago. It was a feat he also accomplished at United, once again under Neil Warnock’s tutelage in 2005-06.

“At QPR, we struggled a little bit over that Christmas and everyone was thinking the bubble had burst,” Kenny continued. 

“Then, the gaffer brought in Ishmael Miller, Pascal Chimbonda, Wayne Routledge and Tommy Smith and it gave us all such a lift. They were instrumental in helping us get across the line and I’m sure Chris [Wilder] will be looking to do something similar at United now."

“He [Wilder] will know the benefit of bringing in some good players, some good characters, just to steady the ship and kick everything on."

“That’s exactly what those lads at Loftus Road did. All of them were really good players but they also had that experience too. Those of us who were already there looked at them and knew the club meant business."

“The sight of them coming in, because we all knew why they were there, raised spirits and gave us a renewed sense of focus.”

RECRUITMENT PLANS 

Fronted by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, COH Sports are known to have held talks with Wilder about his recruitment plans before their purchase of Prince Abdullah’s holding was officially confirmed on December 23rd. 

The announcement marked the end of the Saudi Arabian’s stay at United, where he became sole owner following a bitter High Court battle with ex-chairman Kevin McCabe in 2019. 

Two of the three promotions United have celebrated since Prince Abdullah’s initial investment occurred during his business partnership with McCabe, while the English Football League imposed a two point deduction on them for defaulting on transfer payments en route to the third.

“The new owners should be good for United,” said Kenny. “The timing certainly is, because I think it had reached the point where the old owner didn’t want to - or couldn’t - put any more money in."

“If you want to build and kick on then, with the way football is now, you’ve got to have that backing. United are really handily placed, in third, and they’ve definitely got it in them to do it - especially now they’re hopefully going to be able to bring some new faces in."

“It’s important that Chris can do that, in the areas he needs, for the reasons I’ve spoken about. It helps both on and off the pitch.”