Expert season review: A home 'ice-cream parlour'

Has it been a season of progress, stagnation or indifference?

It has been a season of regression and misery, really.

Sheffield United were not equipped to handle the Premier League, especially when the season began after losing key players.

Despite insisting Paul Heckingbottom's job would be safe whatever happened this year, he was quickly sacked. Chris Wilder returned but, by that point, it was obvious that major changes were needed to the squad.

Several club heroes are going to be moving on. Several other underachievers may do so too. The club faces a major rebuild.

Biggest success for the club this season?

This is really difficult to answer because it has been a horror show.

The biggest success is probably announcing plans for a new training ground - it has been that kind of year. United, if nothing else, can take comfort in building up their infrastructure.

Biggest let down or frustration?

The form at Bramall Lane.

Nobody expected United to have an amazing season in the toughest league in world football but, at the very least, there was hope that home games would be difficult for our opponents. That wasn't the case, with only a couple of exceptions.

United simply didn't compete in several games, suffering harrowing and lop-sided defeats. The Lane wasn't so much a fortress but instead an ice-cream parlour for other teams.

Key item on the summer agenda?

Rebuilding the squad, regaining the character you expect from a Sheffield United team, creating a new era and avoiding becoming a second-tier also-ran.

After relegation last time, United made the Championship play-offs and then won automatic promotion. They need to, if nothing else, stay at the right end of the table and give the fans hope and enjoyment.

They desperately need to avoid drifting and getting stuck as just another Championship team.