Sheffield United's strategic vision three months on: Success, savings, investment and what next

Sheffield United's strategic vision was launched three months ago today alongside the announcement of Paul Heckingbottom as the new Football Manager.

Relegation from the Premier League and the recent pandemic prompted those in the corridors of power at Bramall Lane to address the club's future and how it responds to a change in the footballing landscape.

It marked the start of a shift towards a self-sustaining development model, with Slavisa Jokanovic, who was hired in the summer, sacked and replaced by the former under 23 coach who had taken charge on a temporary basis the previous year.

There were a number of pressing and immediate areas to address and, although still in its infancy, it has already yielded positive results.

On the pitch, the upturn in form since Heckingbottom and his coaching staff, Jack Lester and Stuart McCall, took charge has been remarkable.

United were 16th in the Championship table at the time of Jokanovic's sacking, with just six wins from 19 matches and eight points behind then sixth-placed Stoke City.

They travel to Millwall tomorrow having reeled in those 10 teams above them, and sitting in that final play-off place with 53 points, just eight shy of second-placed Bournemouth.

One defeat in 13 matches under Heckingbottom, and a staggering nine clean sheets in that time, means they are now many people's tip for a top six finish as they enter the final third of the campaign.

Away from the field and some of those immediate objectives have been addressed.

With Heckingbottom joined by Lester, it had created huge holes that needed filling quickly for the club's academy to continue on its upward trajectory that those two had previously been responsible for.

A new head of academy has been