Buzzin Championship Football

Sheffield United’s assistant manager, Sam Ellis, has announced that Keith Gillespie - who has only made one appearance so far this season - is free to leave the club. The 33-year-old has fallen out of favour at Bramall Lane and Ellis says that he will be ‘better off elsewhere’.

It has been reported that there is more to Keith Gillespie’s departure than him simply not getting in the squad though. Keith Gillespie’s agent Phil Munnelly has recently spoke of a ‘difference of opinion’ between the player and Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell. Keith Gillespie is often an outspoken character and perhaps he went one step to far with Kevin Blackwell. He is now paying for it with his Sheffield United career.

It does seem strange that it was Sam Ellis that made the announcement and not Kevin Blackwell himself. Perhaps that highlights the fall-out between the two. The Sheffield United boss may have had to bite his tongue on too many occasions to speak publicly about the situation.

This twist for Keith Gillespie is the latest in what has been a rather stuttering career. The Northern Ireland international began his career at Manchester United, before moving to Newcastle United. It was at St James’ Park that he had his best time as a player. He was part of a very attacking Kevin Keegan team and he played over 100 games for the Magpies.

However, after a half decent spell at Blackburn, he had a loan spell Wigan, followed by a brief time at Leicester before moving to Sheffield United in August 2005. Keith Gillespie has never fully cemented his place in the team during the three years he has been there, with injury often getting in the way.

As for Sheffield United, they sit in 10th position in the Championship with the football odds backing them to make a push for the play-offs this season. Now though, they will have to begin this push without Keith Gillespie who will be seeking a loan move to another club.