Stephen Bettis truth emerges at Sheffield United after COH Sports decision | OneFootball

Sheffield United have responded to concerns regarding a change behind the scenes

Sheffield United will go into the final round of Championship fixtures this weekend with nothing but pride to play for.

Chris Wilder’s side are not in the mix for promotion to the Premier League just 12 months on from reaching the play-off final.

The Blades are also not in danger of relegation, although the 58-year-old guided the club out of the bottom three when he returned to the dugout in September.

Defeat in the opening six games of the season left the Yorkshire outfit bottom of the table, and they could now still finish in the top half with a win this weekend and results elsewhere going in their favour.

Sheffield United will be hoping for a productive summer ahead of the next campaign, with their sights set on getting back into promotion contention.

However, the club will no longer receive parachute payments, which will have a big consequence on their ability to spend in the transfer market.

Sheffield United downplay behind the scenes change

According to The Star, a recent change to remove Stephen Bettis as a director has been downplayed by Sheffield United.

COH Sports took over the Blades in December 2024 amid the team’s promotion push, and Bettis remained on as CEO as part of the deal.

He was appointed to the board in April 2025, with a number of other names also joining as well, including movie director Joe Russo.

However, a restructure earlier this year saw the board reduced to just Steven Rosen, Helmy Eltoukhy and Bettis.

It is understood that it is business as usual at Bramall Lane despite these changes, with Bettis now also removed from his role as a director.

The CEO remains on the board, and it’s believed that these changes, which have been filed with Companies House already, are just a matter of housekeeping.

Bettis was initially brought on as chief executive at Sheffield United in 2016, before he returned in 2018 following a brief spell away from the club.

He has earned a lot of credit for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Yorkshire outfit as they climbed from League One to the Premier League under Wilder, and later Paul Heckingbottom.

It’s been claimed that he has impressed Rosen and Eltoukhy, who are in control of COH Sports, which has led to him staying in the role through the change in ownership.

Sheffield United will end the season this Saturday with a 12.30pm kick-off away to Derby County.

Sheffield United are gearing up for the summer

Sheffield United have rearranged the furniture slightly, but it should have no material impact on the day-to-day running of the club.

It could be a busy summer ahead at Bramall Lane, and Bettis will be a key figure in any recruitment plans as ultimately determining budgets will be under his purview.

He’s built a reputation as an important person behind the scenes at the Yorkshire outfit, and fans would be concerned if he were to leave.

So there will be some relief among the supporters to discover that it is business as usual going into the summer transfer window.