The Blades are pushing ahead with plans to improve the Kop and to increase ground capacity, but are doing so in sensible stages.

Outline plans were available last Friday both to shareholders at the AGM, and to supporters at the Meet the Board evening, and plc Chief Executive Jason Rockett explained:

"Previous plans to create a two tier Kop resulted in limited discussions with the Council which were agreeable, but financially it just wasn't viable and we had a rethink.

"The Council recognise our need to expand and we think they will be amenable to what we have in mind instead. We have a good dialogue with them which was evident when we negotiated about the proposed height of the new hotel."

The latest intention is to build an extension at the back of the current Kop which will take capacity to around 36,000, and this could be increased to 40,000 at a later date by adding to the Valad (South) Stand.

Should things progress satisfactorily, work could potentially begin next year.