Blackwell to bid farewell to Sheffield

LONDON: Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell admits he could quit Bramall Lane to avoid suffering the consequences of his side's failure to win promotion to the Premier League.

The Blades fell at the final hurdle on Monday as Wade Elliott's superb strike condemned them to a 1-0 defeat against Burnley in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.

Losing with the promised land of English football's top-flight within touching distance is always a heartbreaking experience. But Blackwell was speaking with experience as well as raw emotion when he said he would have to think hard about his future.