Sheffield United’s 2-2 draw with Barnsley last Saturday ensured the Blades would be joining bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday in League One next season and competing in English football’s third tier for the first time since 1989.

Blades’ relegation means that Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers will be South Yorkshire’s sole representatives amongst English football’s elite 44 teams next term. Does this recent reversal of fortunes signify a power shift in South Yorkshire football, or is it merely indicative of short-term problems?

The prospect of seeing the two Steel City clubs competing in the third tier is one that would’ve been unfathomable eighteen years ago. Both clubs were founder members of the Premier League and enjoying varying degrees of success in the top flight; Wednesday finished as high as third in 1991/92, just seven points behind league winners Leeds United.

Golden era

In 1993, a Wednesday side featuring England internationals Chris Waddle and Carlton Palmer defeated United at Wembley to secure a place in the FA Cup Final, where they were beaten by Arsenal. The Owls were also beaten in the League Cup Final (also at the hands of Arsenal) earlier that season.

Fast forward to 2011 and the local football landscape is significantly different. Whilst United and Wednesday continue to suffer, two of South Yorkshire’s more traditionally unfashionable clubs, Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers are carrying the Championship torch for the region, whilst north Derbyshire minnows Chesterfield are on the verge of securing promotion to the third tier as League Two champions. Despite enjoying a good start to the campaign, Rotherham United just fell short of the League Two play-offs this term.

Neither Barnsley nor Doncaster can boast the historic pedigree or financial muscle of the Blades or the Owls. The Sheffield clubs have claimed five top flight titles and seven FA Cups between them. By comparison, neither Barnsley, Chesterfield, Doncaster nor Rotherham United have won a single top flight title or FA Cup.

Over the years, United and Wednesday have spent more heavily than other local clubs. A look at some of the clubs’ record transfer fees illustrate their varying levels of financial clout. The Sheffield clubs’ record transfer fees are in excess of £4m (Wednesday paid £4.7m for Paolo di Canio, whilst United paid £4m for James Beattie). By contrast, Doncaster’s record transfer fee is the £2m they paid for Matthew Mills, whilst Barnsley’s most expensive acquisitions are Georgi Hristov and Mike Sheron, who each cost £1.5m.

Big mistakes

BBC Radio Sheffield sports editor Paul Walker believes the decline of the two Sheffield clubs has been on the cards for a while.

“When United were in the Premier League [in 2006/07] big mistakes were made with regards to recruitment and players brought in,” he said.

“[Former manager] Kevin Blackwell saw relegation coming two years ago.”

Mr Walker believes their slide into the third tier, and that of Wednesday, has resulted from their failed attempts to get back into the Premier League.

“Other clubs, such as Charlton and Southampton, have also found it hard getting back to the Premier League.”

However, he said he wasn’t sure whether United’s relegation indicated a power shift towards Barnsley and Doncaster Rovers.

“Is it down to quality or have they run a much tighter ship? It’s a very difficult question to answer.”