Chris Wilder and Stephen Bettis on recruitment reshape at Sheffield United

Sheffield United have a huge summer rebuild up ahead, and long-time head of recruitment Paul Mitchell will no longer be a part of that process.

Mitchell, who has been a part of United”s recruitment since 2016, has departed the club by mutual consent. While his contract was initially slated to conclude this summer, discussions led to an early departure due to personal reasons.

The club’s chief executive officer shared his thoughts on Mitchell’s exit on the club’s website:

“The timing of the change suits both parties and we are now working towards having a new team in place ahead of the summer transfer window.

“On behalf of the board and the club, I’d like to place on record our thanks to ‘Mitch’ for his hard work and dedication to the club. He is well-known and respected in the city and the football fraternity, we wish him well.”

Paul Mitchell departs Sheffield United

Supporters have had issues with the Blades’ recent recruitment but one cannot argue the significant role Paul Mitchell played during United’s rise up the divisions from League One to the Premier League.

Some of the business in the first few years under Chris Wilder’s first tenure was sensational. Signing the likes of Jack O’Connell, John Fleck and Mark Duffy in Wilder’s first summer at the club will forever be remembered by the Sheffield United faithful.

Wilder himself commented on Mitchell’s departure.

“I brought him into the football club as I did with a couple of the others, the likes of Jack [Lester] and Paul [Heckingbottom] previously,” he told The Star.

“He’s been a fabulous servant to the football club. He’s been here a long time and played a major part in a lot of the good things that have happened in the last seven or eight years. I wish him all the best.”