30th May Jack Lester, who was recently was released by Nottingham Forest, has made know his interest in a move to the Blades. Lester, would be available on a free transfer. Kevin Davies has also been linked with a return to the club he supported as a schoolboy. But Blades manager Neil Warnock will bide his time and wait for a few weeks to see who else becomes available.

29th May The Blades have released 18 players, as United look to consolidate and rebuild for next season. Stuart McCall, Simon Tracey and Rob Kozluk have been offered new terms to keep them at thel Lane. Owen Morrison and Peter Ndlovu will be offered a new contracts. Ndlovu is out of contract at the end of June and is currently thinking over his new deal. Marcel Cas will stay at the club on a non-contract basis, while striker Dean Windass is deciding whether to sign his new deal. Ben Scott and Anthony Tansley have been offered three month contracts. The other players Warnock has been forced to axe are: Adam Baum, Ben Doane, Ricky Howarth, Rohan Hazell, Chris Glarvey, Gary Kelly, Lewis Killeen, Ryan Mallon, Kevin Murphy, Rob Nugent, Ben Purkiss, Danny Sloane, Grant Smith, Tyrone Thompson, Rob Ullathorne, Paul Hurrell, Danny Longmore.

28th May Phil Jagielka has ended speculation over his future by signing a one-year extension to his contract that ties him up until the summer of 2005. Jagielka said: "Obviously the Wolves defeat still hurts, but I'm delighted to sign a new deal. I've come through the ranks here at United and have just enjoyed my best season to date. We have got some great lads here and I've really enjoyed my football. I just hope we can go one better next season."

28th May Michael Brown has officially turned down the club's offer of a new contract. Brown has one year left on his contract, it means United could sell him or risk losing the player for nothing next summer. Brown was valued at £5m earlier last season and the Blades are determined to get close to that amount if he does leave the club. Neil Warnock said "There will be one or two clubs coming in for him I'm sure, but if the offer was say £750,000, then the directors would throw that out because it would be an insult, If an offer comes in and it's realistic we'll have to sell whether I like it or not But we're not going to get £4m or £5m for him now because he is in the last year of his current deal. If an offer comes in and it's realistic we'll have to sell whether I like it or not."

26th May Sheffield United 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 (Attendance:69,473)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Curtis, Page, Jagielka, Tonge, Brown, Rankine (McCall 45), Ndlovu (Peschisolido 64), Kabba, Asaba (Allison 74).
Subs not used: Kelly, Montgomery.
Bookings: Tonge 77, Brown 79.

United failed in their attempt reach the promised land of the Premiership, beaten by the better side on the day, Wolves dominated the Division One play-off final and finally ended their 19-year exile from the top flight. United have played some dazzling football this season, the best for many-a-year, but looked out of sorts today, the midfield and defence which had been United's lynch pin throughout the season, failed miserably and were punished by a focused Wolves team. Whether it was the big occasion or being favourites before hand which added to their lacklustre performance it's hard to tell, but within minutes of the kick-off United were reeling when Colin Cameron robbed Michael Brown and fed Kenny Miller, but his weak effort was easily held Paddy Kenny. Nathan Blake came closer to opening the scores in the fourth minute for the Wolves, dragging a low, left-footed shot inches wide after Denis Irwin's hopeful punt up field, but just two minutes later Blake headed goalkeeper Matt Murray's goal kick into the path of Miller, who laid the ball off for the onrushing Kennedy to fire home into the bottom corner. Although the Blades tried to hit back, Wolves continued to look dangerous on the break and when Phil Jagielka's header back to Paddy Kenny fell short in the 13th minute, the Blades keeper had to be alert to clear the danger. Kenny then had to be at his best nine minutes later to deny Colin Cameron as the Wolves midfielder fired in a fierce effort after a surging run, and from the resulting corner, Paul Ince sent the ball towards goal and Blake headed home from close range. United's best chance came seven minutes before the interval; when Ince nearly turned the ball into his own net, only for Matt Murray to come to his rescue. But worse was come in United's direction in the last minute of the half; Miller added a third goal for Wolves when he slotted home by turning Shaun Newton's cross past Kenny. Neil Warnock was forced to watch the second half from the stands after being sent off for comments made to the referee at the break. Blades midfielder Stuart McCall was introduced as a substitute for Mark Rankine, and United got an immediate break when Wolves defender Paul Butler was adjudged to have handled Ndlovu's cross in his own area in the 48th minute. The responsibility fell to Michael Brown but he was foiled from the penalty spot by Murray's full-stretch save, and Ndlovu's follow-up effort was sliced harmlessly wide. The miss proved to be decisive and costly as Wolves defended doggedly and made it hard for the Blades to create many clear-cut chances. Brown failed with a weak long-range effort in the 57th minute. The introduction of Paul Peschisolido buoyed up the Blades crowd when he entered proceedings in the 64th minute, but it was short lived. But it all finally became clear that the gods were finally backing Wolves when Murray pulled off a superb block to keep out a Paul Peschisolido header and then Kennedy was lucky to get away with a handball that denied Phil Jagielka after he drove in the rebound. Well before the end Bladesmen were streaming out of the ground, it was a disappointing end to the season, but Blades fans' will always remember this season; the Blades reached two Cup Semi-finals and finished 3rd in the division, and also outplayed and beat some highly rated top flight teams. There were some great nights at the Lane which no-one will ever forget, and Sheffield United still stand proudly as South Yorkshire's number one team, and the Blades will be back knocking on the Premiership door next season; no one should be in any doubt about that at all.

20th May Robert Page has put club before country ahead of the Blades play-off final with Wolves at The Millennium Stadium. Page was originally included in Mark Hughes' Wales squad for their friendly clash against the USA in San Jose next week. But following the Blades' thrilling play-off semi-final win in extra time against Forest, Page has no doubts which game comes first. he said "Obviously I don't like to miss any international game, But I think everyone will understand it - it's not every year you get to the play-off final and getting to Cardiff is unbelievable."

15th May Sheffield United 4 Nottingham Forest 3 (After Extra Time) (Attendance:30,212)
Line-up: Kenny, Curtis, Kozluk, Page, Jagielka, Rankine, Brown, Tonge, Ndlovu (Peschisolido 106), Windass (Kabba 46), Asaba (Allison 106).
Subs not used: McCall, Montgomery.
Bookings: Tonge 66, Brown 102.
Scorers: Brown 60, Kabba 68, Peschisolido 112, Walker (og)117.

The Blades are just one game away from the Premiership after an extra-time goal from substitute Paul Peschisolido booked a showdown against Wolves at the Millennium Stadium on May 26. Peschisolido hit the target seven minutes after coming off the bench and in astonishing finish defenders Des Walker and Robert Page both scored own goals. United started brightly, midfielder Michael Tonge carved out a half chance in the 10th minute after cutting inside from the left flank. His low cross was pushed away by Darren Ward diving to his right and Dean Windass, from the tightest of angles, stabbed the ball wide. Forest were in trouble again minutes later, a Tonge corner picking out centre back Robert Page whose header was snatched from under the bar by Ward. United squandered a chance to snatch the lead in the 20th minute after Page touched on a cross from the left and Windass, steaming in at the far post powered his downward header straight at the Forest keeper from six yards. Michael Brown almost grabbed his 22nd of the season minutes later, his stinging drive from 25 yards flashing a fraction wide of the target before Forest snatched the lead in the 30th minute. Full back John Curtis tried to cut out a through ball but squared it straight to danger man David Johnson who finished with a low drive. Carl Asaba saw his spectacular half volley skim over the top before Forest wasted the chance to snatch a second. Phil Jagielka tried to head clear but touched the ball to Marlon Harewood who dragged his shot wide of the far post from 16 yards. Steven Kabba, on for Windass at half time, made an instant impact, his shot minutes after the restart stopped on the line by Ward before Forest grabbed a second in the 58th minute. Riccardo Scimeca's quickly taken free kick was fed to full back Mathieu Louis-Jean and his cross was volleyed home by Andy Reid. Battling United were back in the game two minutes later after Des Walker brought down Asaba, Brown's free kick taking a deflection and curling past the stranded Ward . Kabba then levelled matters in the 68th minute with an eye-catching volley. Ndlovu blazed over the bar six minutes into extra time, substitute Jack Lester fired wide for Forest, and Johnson's curling shot in the 109th minute was deflected before United went 3-2 ahead in the 112th minute A long ball downfield from Kenny found substitute Peschisolido who twisted past his marker, before steering the balls past Ward from 15 yards. In an astonishing finish Walker headed a Kabba cross past his own keeper in the 117th to the delight of the Blades fans', a minute later Page put the ball in his own net after a Darren Huckerby effort had cannoned off Kenny's chest. But United held on for a superb victory and great night for all Blades fans'. Cardiff here we come.

15th May Neil Warnock has slight doubts surrounding three players for Today's second leg of the Division One play-off semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Bramall Lane.Steven Kabba hurt his ankle in the challenge which saw Forest defender Michael Dawson sent off in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the City Ground. Robert Page and midfielder Mark Rankine also picked up knocks, but all three are expected to be fit for United's biggest game in years.

10th May Nottingham Forest 1 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance:29,064)
Line-up: Kenny, Curtis, Page, Jagielka, Kozluk, Ndlovu, Brown, Rankine, Tonge, Windass (Kabba 81), Asaba.
Subs not used: Peschisolido, Allison, McCall, Montgomery.
Bookings: Curtis 35, Jagielka 25, Brown 58, Windass 63.
Scorer: Brown 58 (pen).

The Blades take an advantage into the return leg of the play-off semi-final after gaining a well deserved 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Michael Brown converted a crucial penalty after he was brought down by Mathieu Louis-Jean, after David Johnson had give Forest the lead. The Blades got off to a bright start with Phil Jagielka bursting forward only to fire a wayward shot over the crossbar, but it was Forest who came closest to an early goal. Riccardo Scimeca's in swinging corner was met by a powerful header from Marlon Harewood which rattled the underside of the crossbar and hit the line before it was cleared by the Blades defense. Four minutes later, Scimeca's looping free-kick from wide on the left threatened to dip under the bar before keeper Paddy Kenny scrambled back to tip the ball over. As Forest pressed forward, United increasingly resorted to long balls out of defense, but a mistake by Louis-Jean almost handed the Blades a first-half lead, he sliced an attempted clearance and the ball landed at the feet of Carl Asaba six yards out. But Asaba miskicked horribly and though he did connect with a right-foot shot in the ensuing melee, keeper Darren Ward saved his team-mate's blushes with an easy save. Towards the end of the first half Forest had a sting of chances, Dawson headed narrowly over from another dangerous Scimeca corner before the dangerous Darren Huckerby beat three players only to waste the shooting opportunity. Forest finally got an opener when Johnson, who moments earlier had headed a corner straight at the goalkeeper, raced on to Reid's deflected pass and coolly slotted the ball past Kenny. But Forest led for less than two minutes when Louis-Jean made an intervention in his own penalty area. As Brown burst into the box, Louis-Jean brought the midfielder down, for a clear penalty, Brown got up to send Ward the wrong way from the spot. Forest's hopes of getting a winner disappeared when defender Michael Dawson was shown a red card late in the second half, for a dangerous tackle on United substitute Steven Kabba. United pressed forward for a winner, Michael Tonge sent a superb 20-yard drive towards goal, but Ward pulled off an equally brilliant save to deny the Blades and set-up for a thrilling climax at The Lane in the second-leg next Thursday.

6th May Michael Tonge and Nick Montgomery have been rewarded with one-year contract extensions for helping Sheffield United reach the play-offs. The pair came through the youth ranks to play a major role in United's success this season, and will now remain at Bramall Lane until the summer of 2006. Warnock said: "I'm delighted both wish to stay at the club. It shows they are committed to Sheffield United and that they think we are going in the right direction. It shows how highly we rate them to offer them new deals"

4th May Watford 2 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance:14,320)
Line-up: Kelly, Curtis, Page, Cas, Kozluk, Montgomery, McCall (Tonge 52), Rankine (Kabba 61), Ndlovu, Windass (Peschisolido 69), Asaba.
Subs not used: Cryan, Allison.

Two second-half goals saw Watford claim victory over Sheffield United in a drab end-of-season encounter at Vicarage Road. With the Blades already assured of a place in the play-offs manager Neil Warnock rested some of his stars. In a scrappy first half Stuart McCall came closest to breaking the deadlock. McCall fired in a long-range strike which young keeper Richard Lee managed to tip onto the angle of post and crossbar and out for a corner. Jason Norville and Cox went close with efforts for the Hornets in the first half, while Carl Asaba and Peter Ndlovu came close for the Blades. Mark Rankine drilled a long-range effort wide in the early stages of the second half whilst Allan Nielsen did likewise for the Hornets. Watford skipper Cox finally broke the deadlock after 64 minutes, firing home from close range from Nielsen's corner. Soon after Kabba saw an effort tipped over by Lee. The Hornets made sure of the points 11 minutes from time. But the result was un-important; Neil Warnocks main concern was that his team came though the match unscathed. United opponents in the Play-Off semi-finals will be Nottingham Forest who finished in sixth, with United finishing in third spot.

3rd May United are expected make a couple of changes from the team that defeated Bradford in midweek. Paddy Kenny will be rested and with Simon Tracey still out, Garry Kelly will get a start for the Blades. Wayne Allison, Steven Kabba and Paul Peschisolido all came off the bench in the win over the Bantams, and could be involved in the Blades final league match of the season at Vicarage Road.