Australian Arnold linked with Blades job after coaching Mariners to A-League title

FORMER Australia head coach Graham Arnold is being linked with a move to Sheffield United – according to reports Down Under.

By The Newsroom Thursday, 25th April 2013, 9:28 am

Chris Morgan

Arnold is currently coaching Central Coast Mariners – one of several worldwide clubs the Blades have a partnership with – with their owner Mike Charlesworth revealing this week the 49-year-old will be free to walk away from the last year of his contract if a major overseas club comes in.

A number of European and Asian clubs, including United, are reportedly interested in Arnold, who recently led the Mariners to their inaugural A-League Grand Final win on Sunday, with former Bramall Lane favourite Nick Montgomery among their stars.

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Scarborough Group International – owner of Sheffield United FC – hold an investment position at the club, with Blades supremo Kevin McCabe also on the board of directors at Mariners.

On Arnold’s future, Charlesworth said: “If Arnie wants to go (overseas), we won’t stand in his way. While we’d love to have him stay, we know he’d love to coach overseas and believe he deserves to be given that opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Chris Morgan – in charge for the rest of the season at least – does not believe being away from home in the decisive play-off semi-final second leg will hamper the Blades’ push for promotion, if they end the season in fifth or sixth spot.

United are on course to finish in the final two play-off positions in League One following Tuesday night’s defeat at Crewe Alexandra.

Morgan said: “Being away second is not a problem for me. Our away form has been good all season, other than a mad 15 minutes on Saturday (when United lost 3-0 at Portsmouth).

“I have felt for a while that at this club we always finish third and then miss out. It might be one of those seasons when we finish fifth or sixth, everyone thinks we have tailed off but then we go and do it.

“It is not about peaking against Crewe. Or against Preston even. It is all about the play-offs and we are ready for them.”

Following Tuesday’s loss, United have won just once in their last seven games. Morgan, though, believes his players can improve that record by finishing the regular season strongly this weekend against a Preston team led by Simon Grayson, the manager who famously pipped the Blades to promotion last term when in charge of Huddersfield Town.

Morgan added: “The key now is ending the season on a high and getting the supporters with us. I think they will be as they have been excellent all year.

“I am sure they are as frustrated as we are with the last two away games but I was pleased with the shape against Crewe.

“We changed things to have a look but, to me, it didn’t weaken the team. I felt it was a strong enough team to win at Crewe.

“That wasn’t to be and there was a lot of frustration in the dressing room but I also got the impression the players now can’t wait to get the play-offs under way.”

Morecambe’s Kevin Ellison has been handed a one-match ban and been fined by the FA for his goal celebration against former club Rotherham United.