Apparently on £37k a week there. At least we've got a reduced fee to account for wages. A years wages = £1.9m at that rate. Worth every penny if we stay up this year.
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Sheffield-United-opt-to-shed.4872893.jp SHEFFIELD UNITED have revealed top scorer James Beattie was sold to Stoke City to protect the club's long-term financial security.
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The 30-year-old's departure on Monday in a deal that could rise to £3.5m has disappointed supporters with the Blades sitting fourth in the Championship.
United, who failed yesterday with a seven-figure bid to bring Reading's Leroy Lita to South Yorkshire, will undoubtedly miss Beattie whose tally of 12 league goals is double that of anyone else at Bramall Lane this season.
But it seems the opportunity to rid themselves of the burden of the striker's reputed £37,000-per-week wages was something the Blades' board were unable to turn down – especially with the multi-million pound parachute payment that follows relegation from the Premier League being due to end this summer.
An official club statement read: "The sale of James to Stoke City signals the start of a re-profiling of the squad which will ensure the club is in the best position to manage any eventuality that might arise in the future.
"The club is not immune to circumstances and needs to have a robust business plan, both on and off the field, to give the manager and team the best opportunity for long-term, ongoing success.
"The loss of parachute payments will correspond with a worldwide recession, and the chance to transfer our highest-paid player can only happen when a willing buyer puts in an offer.
"Whenever this bid came it would be difficult, both for the club and its supporters, but it had to be considered.
"With us still a Championship side and facing a massive drop in football income the wage cost of one player would have been 35 per cent of projected budget (if next season sees Blades still in the Championship).
"This difficult decision was made in the knowledge that we will not be offering new contracts until the end of the season and it is natural that players who perceive they are in the final years of their existing contracts will make repeated requests for continuing negotiation.
"Sheffield United's ambition in signing James – although he has been an exemplary professional and scorer of many goals – did not result in the immediate return to the Premier League that we had hoped for.
"The club is setting its stall out to assist the manager with a competitive squad and with an expenditure that will be realistic but does not put the club at risk.
"Our ambitions are the same but we are not immune from financial circumstances."
Beattie's departure means the focus of supporters has switched to which player Kevin Blackwell might bring in to bolster the club's striking options.
One man who will not be coming to Bramall Lane, however, is Lita after the Reading striker committed his future to the Berkshire club.
The forward, who recently returned to the Madejski Stadium after a successful loan spell with Norwich, was notified of the Blades' interest over the weekend.
Reading's director of football Nick Hammond said: "We did receive a private offer from Sheffield United for Leroy Lita last week. We always try to be open with our players regarding bids officially lodged by other clubs, so it was put to Leroy.
"However, we were very pleased that Leroy firmly stated his desire to stay at Reading, and he will not be joining Sheffield United."
Reading manager Steve Coppell declined to comment yesterday on Lita's future but he did publicly praise the striker after his scoring return for the club in last Friday night's 4-0 thrashing of Watford.
