The Local paper assesment of Blackwell as managerSouth Yorkshire Star By James Shield
Sheffield United chief's final conflictKEVIN Blackwell was engulfed by a perfect footballing storm following last year's Championship play-off final defeat - but were sporting and financial concerns always going to conflict?
Having spent the past 15 months wrestling with a seemingly incessant combination of aggravating problems, his grip on management survival finally slipped on Saturday evening when Sheffield United, the team he had managed since February 2008, were heavily beaten by Queens Park Rangers.
Although the focus has now switched to who will replace Blackwell at the helm of the npower Championship club, it is still worth reflecting on the highs and lows of his reign and the tangle of circumstances that ended it.
Indeed, Bramall Lane's board of directors would be committing a grave error if they failed to analyse how circumstances conspired against the former Leeds and Luton chief. As one member of the top brass admitted last night: "You've got to learn the lessons of the past to stand a better chance of moving forward."
Blackwell's stock had fallen dramatically among huge sections of United's support when the axe fell less than 48 hours ago.
It should be remembered, however, that he was a largely popular appointment when chairman Kevin McCabe brought him back to South Yorkshire following an unsuccessful experiment with Bryan Robson.
Having used a combination of infectious enthusiasm and simple strategies to steer United away from the relegation zone, Blackwell remarkably came within 90 minutes of securing a play-off place on the final day of the campaign at Southampton.
One year on, it was automatic promotion on the agenda during the final game of the regular season at Crystal Palace. A nervous draw forced United to adopt a more convoluted route which ended in crushing disappointment.
Had United reached the Premier League on either occasion then Blackwell would undoubtedly been viewed in a very different light.
An unfair assessment perhaps but, in an age when the average life of a manager in England's second tier is now less than two years, accurate nonetheless.
Blackwell chose Wembley's media suite, located deep inside the bowels of the national stadium, as the location for a speech which would prove an uncannily accurate prediction of what lay in store following that loss to Burnley.
Understandably, having seen Wade Elliott's goal deny United a return to the Premier League, he cut a disconsolate figure.
But those who witnessed his post-match inquest were struck by how bleak a picture Blackwell painted of the challenges they faced.
Stripped of a parachute payment and having seen James Beattie, his talismanic striker, sold to Stoke, Blackwell warned United were entering a transitional period where expectation levels would have to be tempered.
A series of key names followed the former England international through the exit door to balance the books and were replaced by a series of injury-prone loanees.
This had a detrimental effect on spirit behind the scenes and, irrespective of what his critics might say, Blackwell performed wonders to keep United in contention for so long.
But aesthetically they also suffered. A string of bedraggled displays, as Blackwell's charges were forced to plan on the hoof, led to criticism of his tactics.
Privately, coaching staff complained that it was impossible to achieve any cohesion given the constant comings and goings.
They had a point.
But, given football's turbulent economic climate, United's hierarchy were also right to balance the books.
Of course, Blackwell had weaknesses.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve in a business where good acting skills are a neccessity was one. An inability to communicate effectively with fans another.
But perhaps his greatest failing was timing.
Finding himself in the hotseat when sporting and financial concerns were always going to conflict.
www.thestar.co.uk/sportheadlines/Sheffield-United-chief39s-final-conflict.6476444.jp
