"Same with Liverpool and Arsenal" - Kevin McCabe opens up on Sheffield United takeover situation | OneFootball

The former owner of the Blades has aired his thoughts on the attempted takeover of the club.

Kevin McCabe - the former co-owner of Sheffield United - has revealed what he thinks about the ongoing takeover at Bramall Lane.

It feels like only a matter of time until the Blades officially change hands from Prince Abdullah to its new custodians.

The exact identities of those involved in the takeover process have not been confirmed, but reports from The Star have suggested that the Wolverhampton-born co-founder of American investment capital fund Vertex Albion, Tom Page, is heading up the group who are pushing to get the deal done.

An agreement between the two parties on the terms of the sale is said to have been reached, and they are now just waiting for the all-clear from the EFL to officially get this deal over the line.

Prince Abdullah wanted to keep part of the club, according to reports from earlier in the sale process, but that is not said to be part of the agreement that has been reached.

His former Blades business partner, McCabe, who ran the club alongside the Middle Eastern prince up until 2019, when a High Court verdict gave full control to Prince Abdullah, believes that whoever comes to own his former club must have certain qualities.

Kevin McCabe on the Sheffield United takeover

The 73-year-old lifelong United supporter believes that, no matter the nationality of those aspiring to own the reds from the Steel City, the most important thing that they can be is aware of what they are getting themselves into; someone that is aware of the stature and history of the team that they hope to own.

"I hope they get a new owner," said McCabe, to The Athletic. "Probably a new owner who’s not mega-wealthy but who understands the game of football and understands something about the roots of a club like Sheffield United.

"The time is good for United if they can find the right owner. Someone with presence. If they are American, as we’re led to believe, they do understand the business of sport."

The American group are said to be led by ex-pats who have knowledge of the English game, and have been over to watch United play on multiple occasions over the past year, including the side's league opener against Preston North End, as per The Star.

Foreign ownership/investment in English football clubs has skyrocketed in recent years. By Christmas 2023, over 30% of the teams in the EFL had some level of American shareholders, according to The Athletic. That was before West Bromwich Albion's takeover by Shilen Patel earlier in the year.

McCabe doesn't have any quarms about the reducing number of English-owned football league teams. "I’ve done business in real estate across various countries, so there’s no reason football shouldn’t do the same," claimed the ex-Blades owner.

"But it still means those who do takeover — whether from Australia, Africa, America, wherever — have to understand what they are buying into.

"Same with Liverpool and Arsenal. They love the sport and properly engage."

Kevin McCabe is spot on about Sheffield United takeover

Although there may be those with some pre-conceptions about prospective owners from across the pond and their supposed lack of knowledge about the English game, these people are often very smart. Many of them wouldn't have the wealth that they have if they weren't intelligent people.

But, back to McCabe's point, he is absolutely right that no matter who is taking over a football club, no matter their nationality, religious beliefs or origin, they need to ingratiate themselves in the club's culture.

Once you do that, then the millions that you have to offer can be better used.