Chris Wilder convinces Sheffield United he has changed ahead of emotional return
Chris Wilder is returning to his beloved Sheffield United after convincing the club he is a changed man.
Wilder is coming back to Bramall Lane to replace the sacked Paul Heckingbottom after the Blades axed him in March 2021 when he fell out with nearly everyone at the club.
The Blades were bottom of the Premier League with just 14 points and owner Prince Abdullah and his board ran out of patience with the combative Wilder.
They were unhappy with his transfer policy, in particular Rhian Brewster’s £23.5million move from Liverpool, and the Blades boss wanted a new director of football and training ground.
Prince Abdullah initially sounded out Wilder over a possible return in September and he and his board have been assured he has mellowed.
Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush
Prince Abdullah backtracked on a return then and he was prepared to stick with Heckingbottom as results improved before the last international break.
However the 3-1 home defeat to relegation rivals Bournemouth changed everything and the fans turned on Heckingbottom.
Saturday’s thumping by Burnley in the basement battle at Turf Moor only convinced Prince Abdullah that a change was needed in the dug-out.
The Blades, who had Oli McBurnie sent off for twice elbowing Dara O’Shea, were a disgrace and it was clear they had stopped playing for Heckingbottom.
Wilder, 56, who has been out of work since leaving Watford in the summer, is still popular with the fans and Prince Abdullah listens to them.
The Saudi feels his appointment will win them over before Wilder’s first daunting home game against Liverpool tomorrow.
Wilder led the Blades from League One to ninth in the Premier League in 2020 before everything unravelled at Bramall Lane the following season.
Heckingbottom is set to pay the price with his side languishing at the bottom of the Premier League (Getty Images)Heckingbottom, 46, knew the end was coming after Saturday’s rout at Turf Moor and rightly said he can hold his head high as he walked out of Bramall Lane yesterday.
The former Leeds, Barnsley and Hibernian boss becomes the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season.
He took over after Slavisa Jokanvoic’s failed short reign just over two years ago and rallied the Blades to reach the play-offs.
Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster
Heckingbottom guided them to automatic promotion last season, despite operating in a financial straitjacket.
He saw the club’s two best players - Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye - sold in the summer to avoid losing them for nothing next year when their contracts expired.
He rightly said he was suffering because of the poor financial decisions the club made in not extending their deals and insuring their value.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
