Sheffield United are on the rise again under Chris Wilder, and January may be a big month at Bramall Lane. However, off-field issues involving Prince Abdullah and COH Sports are likely to develop.

In terms of Prince Abdullah, his decade-plus reign at the club came to an end just before Christmas last year, when the American-led consortium COH Sports announced the completion of their £105 million takeover of Sheffield United.

Sheffield United fans have been described as some of the most rational in the Championship, although any ownership group’s goal is to return to the Premier League. The Blades are a second-year parachute payout team in the Championship.

Chris Wilder has a massive January window with the Blades, but other variables threaten to get in the way before next month. That is, if Prince Abdullah and COH Sports face additional issues with the takeover and ongoing payments over the past year.

Sheffield United faces the prospect of administration.

Prince Abdullah sold Sheffield United last summer, and the former Blades owner sent good wishes as he left Bramall Lane. In many ways, he left the club in a better state than he found it in League One.

He left the Blades in search of a second promotion to the Premier League in three seasons, which would have enhanced his legacy even more if they had won the play-off final against Sunderland at Wembley Stadium.

That history could be damaged as Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett revealed that he protested to the EFL and Regulator about COH Sports. It refers to a late £10 million payment made last month.

It has subsequently been paid, but the club is facing a winding-up order, which could force it into administration. It is reported that they had 21 days to pay the bill. However, the deadline passed, and they were allowed a further three weeks to pay the debt or risk a winding-up order.

Prince Abdullah held talks about a minority investment in Sheffield United.

According to Sky, two payments are still required to complete the formal takeover. Furthermore, it is thought that nearly half of the agreed-upon buyout price has yet to be paid and will do so in the coming months.

Furthermore, in a letter to the EFL, Prince Abdullah expressed concerns about how COH might finance the club’s future operations, but Sky reports that the American venture capitalist group remains fully committed to Sheffield United and has no plans to sell.

There is no reason to believe Sheffield United will not be fully supported in the future, but COH is currently in talks with a number of possible minority investors in order to generate a new influx of capital.

They even recently spoke with Prince Abdullah about the potential of the crown prince reinvesting and taking a lesser part in the club. However, the discussions ended without reaching an agreement.