Sheffield United offer helping hand to Maltese football

Sheffield United are ready to use all their influence in the game to boost the development of Maltese football as interest kindled following a two-year sponsorship agreement between the English club and the Malta Tourism Authority.

Speaking to The Times during a visit by Maltese journalists to Bramall Lane, the first since the agreement seeing the Blades sporting the visitmalta.com logo on their playing strip was signed, manager Kevin Blackwell said that the link-up with Malta has caught the imagination of many people, all eager to see that the deal will befit both parties.

"The connection between Malta and Sheffield United has left a significant impact here," he said.

"Sheffield United is a prominent football organisation with a sound base that includes an academy considered by many among the top five in our country.

"During the past few years, our chairman, Kevin McCabe, has involved himself with four other clubs around the world, Ferencvaros, of Hungary, Brazil's Sao Paulo, Central Coast Mariners, in Australia, and Chengu Blades in China.

"Thanks to this venture abroad, we extended our brand elsewhere. The initiative has also given our technical staff an opportunity to share their knowledge of the game with others besides helping the clubs mentioned to improve their training methods at youth level and beyond.

"Last month, two of our coaches were at Ferencvaros and held sessions with other coaches there. We exchanged a number of training programmes that we feel will be beneficial to their youth organisations.

"Besides, throughout the year we invite coaches from our partnering clubs and show them how our methods are put into practice with our players."

Sheffield United are planning a similar project with the Maltese.

"Last month, a delegation from our club met officials from Malta's sporting authorities with whom they spoke about our training systems and the scientific philosophy we use in areas such as nutrition and fitness. They seemed very interested and willing to continue with the talks in future."

Blackwell, however, said that any involvement in Maltese football can only be put into practice if Sheffield United receive a formal request by the football institution on the island.

"We cannot go to Malta and impose our football philosophy without the consent of the local association," Blackwell remarked.

"At present, our only connection is with the Malta Tourism Authority. However, if they forward us a request from a club or association in Malta that is interested in seeking our assistance, we will be delighted to get involved.

"In my opinion, Maltese football has improved a lot during the past few years. I'm not surprised that players like Michael Mifsud is doing so well at Coventry City while in Justin Haber we have one of the brightest prospects at Sheffield United."

During the past weeks, speculation was rife that Blackwell was courting Mifsud who is now in his final year of contract at the Ricoh Arena.

"Mifsud is a player I really like," Blackwell said. "His pace and finishing are impressive and he is certainly a player that I would like to have here. But we will see what happens in the coming months."

One person who was instrumental in the negotiations of the partnership deal between the MTA and Sheffield United was Mike Farnan, the newly-appointed executive director at Bramall Lane.

Farnan enjoys a lot of experience in the academy sector as his CV includes administrative spells with Manchester United and Parma, both famed for nurturing young hopefuls into great players.

"Malta is not a new country for me," Farnan told The Times.

"During my time at Manchester United, I worked closely with Gary Neville and his father Neville. So, I have a clear idea on the potential of young players over there.

"Now, I hope that this agreement will give us further opportunity to help in the development of young Maltese players."

Farnan will be visiting Malta in the coming weeks.

"As part of the agreement we have agreed to oversee the development of a community programme to help the country's most talented players. Next month, I will be in Malta with our club's Academy Manager Ron Reid. We will be meeting with association officials and coaches to discuss the setting up of an academy.

"We already had talks with government officials so the next talks should put us in a good position to realise this project.

"This kind of initiative will be beneficial from different aspects.

"Maltese coaches will receive first-class assistance and for us it will be an ideal way to monitor the progress of the players with a view of having the promising ones continuing their careers at Bramall Lane."