Sheffield United Plc, operator of the football club known as 'the Blades', is enjoying a strong season on the pitch in the Nationwide Division One (the team is currently in third place) and there's also an imminent FA Cup Semi Final at Old Trafford against Arsenal for investors and supporters to look forward to. Nevertheless, the group's interim numbers to December showed pre-tax losses widening slightly to £1.3m (losses of £1.2m) on flat turnover of £4.7m (£4.7m). Chairman Kevin McCabe argues that, with the football industry financially in the mire and in the wake of the collapse of ITV Digital, 'my colleagues deserve due credit for restricting losses to a similar level to those for the comparable period last year'. Broadcasting revenues fell by £1.2m to £500,000 in the first half in the wake of the ITV Digital debacle - though this was partially offset by rises in turnover from gate receipts, sponsorship, merchandising and advertising and from the company's Blades Enterprise Centre. Annual player wage costs are down 3% at Sheffield United, and the club will need to stay on top of wages in the future. Hold.