A Championship manager has been sacked today after missing out on promotion to the Premier League last season.
The second division play-off final is widely-known as the richest game in football due to the prize money and benefits of being promoted to the top flight on offer, and a defeat can be gut-wrenching for the side that misses out.
That’s what happened to Sheffield United last season who, after just one year away, came within inches of returning to the Premier League, but were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in the play-offs at Wembley.
Chris Wilder, 57, is in his second stint in charge of the club, having initially led them in the top flight between 2016 and 2021.
He left the club in March 2021 when they were bottom of the Premier League – a year in which they were relegated after two seasons – having initially joined them in May 2016 when they were in the Championship.
Now, though he has been sacked by the Blades, departing for a second time, after the new owners opted to head in a different direction.
A Championship manager has been sacked after missing out on Premier League promotion
Chris Wilder was in his second stint in charge of Sheffield United but has now been sacked
Former Hull, Reading and Southampton boss Ruben Selles is in the frame to replace Wilder
‘Sheffield United can confirm a mutually agreed decision has been reached for manager Chris Wilder to leave the football club,’ their club statement read on Wednesday evening.
‘Chris will leave alongside coaches Alan Knill and Matt Prestridge, and in doing so depart with the best wishes and gratitude of everyone connected with Sheffield United.
‘A Blade through and through, the legacy Chris and his staff have created here will never be forgotten, going right back to 2016 when he initially took the job with the club rooted in League One.
‘Between 2016 and 2021, he guided the club to two promotions and a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, creating an era which will go down as one of the most fondly remembered in the club’s history.
‘After returning to the club during a difficult period in 2023, he has provided stability and created a new team which earned a Steel City derby double amongst other notable highlights last season.
‘Showing his calibre as a manager, he guided the club to third place finish, collecting 92 points, before a heartbreaking conclusion in the play-off final.
‘Our owners, COH Sports, would wish to place on record our thanks to Chris and his staff for their efforts whilst at the helm and will be extending their own appreciation in due course.’
After leaving United the first time, Wilder went onto lead Middlesbrough and Watford, but returned in 2023 – chosen as the person to lead them back to the Premier League.
Selles left Hull earlier this year but is now set for his latest job in the second tier of English football
He came close to doing that last season. After they finished third in the table on 90 points – 10 behind Leeds and Burnley – they reached the play-off final, where they would meet Sunderland.
US-based consortium COH Sports took over the club in December, when Wilder was already in charge. They had, up until now, resisted the urge to hire their own boss.
Now, though, they are looking to go in a different direction and have moved Wilder on, with an announcement expected in due course.
Wilder is thought to have an excellent relationship with Steven Rosen – one of the two people leading the new ownership – but bosses are keen to bring in their own person.
The owners are understood to be keen to implement a data-based recruitment process, with Nigerian winger Ehije Ukaku joining from Bulgarian club Botev Plovdiv last week.
Gary O’Neil had been linked with replacing Wilder, but it is now reported that the former Wolves and Bournemouth boss won’t be stepping into the dugout at Bramall Lane.
Instead, former Southampton, Reading and Hull manager Ruben Selles is set to step into the hotseat. Selles was most recently manager of Hull in the Championship, but led Southampton in the Premier League two years ago.
