Sheffield United have struggled over the past few years in League One, with many putting it down to a plethora of bad signings made under the numerous managers the Blades have set on over the past few seasons.

Every club will make a signing that ultimately fails, whether it be a big money signing or high profile name in the game who fails, most clubs have had this experience in the transfer market.

Under new manager Chris Wilder, the Blades have adopted a different approach, looking to sign players for low fees but with proven quality or a desire to well for Sheffield United.

In years gone by, there has been some bad big money signings at Bramall Lane, with the likes of Luton Shelton, John Ebbrell, and Geoff Horsfield springing immediately to mind.

Here, FLW writer Lee Connor looks at THREE of the poorest signings made by Sheffield United in the last five years...

Michael Higdon

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The less said about the Scottish striker's time at Sheffield United, the better really.

Signed by Nigel Clough from the Dutch club Nijmegen, Higdon was supposed to be the final piece of the jigsaw, where his goalscoring prowess and presence up front would drive the Blades to promotion. How wrong United were.

Higdon managed only a handful of goals, and delivered utterly abysmal performances throughout his time at Bramall Lane. He was overweight, lazy, and offered very little to the team. He was handed the captaincy in his first game - a game which he did actually bag a goal in - in one of the most bizarre decisions of Nigel Clough's reign.

Higdon is certainly not missed at Bramall Lane, that is for sure.

Martyn Woolford

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I am not even sure what to write about Martyn Woolford and his spell at Bramall Lane.

Woolford signed for United on a free transfer for Nigel Adkins, with Adkins having had Woolford as part of his successful Scunthorpe United teams.

However, it was simply just not to be for Woolford, who never found any sort of form whatsoever for the Blades during his spell. Played out of position, looking unfit, and offering little going forward, he was a massive failure.

Woolford was moved on by new manager Chris Wilder immediately, a clear sign of what was actually thought of the former Millwall man.

John Brayford

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It might seem like a harsh selection this, given the plethora of utter rubbish which has come through the door at Bramall Lane of late, but on the basis of paying £2m for a right back in League One, I am going with Brayford.

It is not even anything against Brayford as such, a player who for the most part played with passion and delivered high quality performances often above the level of most of his team mates.

However, for poor signings as a club, Brayford has to go in. I can't help thinking that £2m could have been spent so much better on a squad which at the time only needed a bit of tweaking to really challenge at the top of the table.

Brayford has since moved out on loan to Burton following a serious injury. He will be remembered for his loan spell at Bramall Lane, however his permanent spell will be less remembered.

Blades fans, what do you think? There must be lots of players who could make this article! Let us know your thoughts below!