Sheffield United facing "immediate" change to Bramall Lane | OneFootball

Sheffield United could be set to make big changes to their Bramall Lane stadium ahead of the new season.

Sheffield United could be set to introduce safe standing in the Kop stand at Bramall Lane ahead of next season.

Sheffield United looked firmly on course to achieve automatic promotion from the Championship this season, but a three-game losing run in early April saw Leeds United and Burnley steal a march in the race for the top two, and they eventually finished in third place.

It looked as though the Blades were back on track after a record-breaking 6-0 aggregate victory over Bristol City in their play-off semi-final, but they suffered heartbreak as they were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the final at Wembley, despite being in a seemingly comfortable position with just 15 minutes of the game remaining.

The failure to reach the Premier League could see some big changes at United, with the club's ownership confirming that they will take a data-based approach to recruitment this summer, while a decision on the future of manager Chris Wilder is expected to be made this week.

In addition to the review of football operations, the Blades could also be set to upgrade their Bramall Lane stadium with the introduction of safe standing, and it could potentially be implemented as early as next season.

Sheffield United weighing up big Bramall Lane upgrade

Sheffield United have had long-term issues with supporters standing at the back of the Kop stand, which is the largest inside Bramall Lane, and they have previously faced the threat of areas of the stand being closed off.

In an attempt to avoid that eventuality, the Blades paid an additional £3,000 per game to meet the stewarding requirements in the problem area, which would add up to a total of almost £70,000 across the 23 home games in a Championship season.

However, with the cost implications of paying for the additional stewards mounting, minutes from a recent meeting of the Fan Advisory Board have revealed that the club are now weighing up whether to introduce safe standing.

"For the same expenditure, it would be possible to install 3,000 safe standing spaces, which would improve safety and crowd management while maintaining compliance," the minutes read, as quoted by The Star.

"Although safe standing has previously been discussed as a long-term option, the current financial pressures make it a more immediate and viable solution.

“The club is seeking input from the FAB regarding the placement of safe standing, should the decision be made to implement it.

"While the Kop is the primary area of concern, the club would appreciate feedback on the most appropriate locations for the safe standing sections within the stadium."

No final decision has yet been made, but United are said to be "seriously considering" bringing safe standing to the Kop stand, and although chief executive Steven Bettis would "ideally" like it in place for next season, the formal consultation process with the Safety Advisory Group could be a lengthy one, while discussions will also need to be held with supporters who would be affected by the change.

Sheffield United facing decisive summer after Wembley agony

There are many barriers to overcome if Sheffield United are to introduce safe standing at Bramall Lane, but the move would likely be welcomed by supporters who have long called for it to be implemented, as well as saving the club significant money in stewarding costs.

However, before the Blades turn their attention to stadium renovations, they have more pressing decisions to make in the short-term, most notably over the future of manager Chris Wilder.

Club owners Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy are currently believed to be debating whether to stick with the 57-year-old.

Wilder was only given a new long-term contract in January to keep him at the club until the summer of 2028, so it would be a controversial call if Rosen and Eltoukhy decided to part company with him.

So, as they continue to get their feet under the table at Bramall Lane, an intriguing summer could be ahead for Sheffield United, both on and off the pitch.