Why Sheffield United will not be appointing Gary O’Neil as Chris Wilder successor revealed | OneFootball

Sheffield United are making moves in the dugout ahead of the new Championship season

Gary O'Neil is not expected to become the next Sheffield United manager amid the impending dismissal of Chris Wilder.

According to Sky Sports’ Rob Doresett, the Yorkshire outfit’s new owners are keen to instead move in a different direction.

O’Neil has been out of work since last December, meaning he would be available as a free agent.

The 42-year-old’s previous managerial experience has come in the Premier League, working with both Bournemouth and Wolves.

Sheffield United’s Gary O’Neil stance

Sheffield United are expected to dismiss Wilder as manager within the next day or two as they negotiate a compensation package.

However, it’s understood that O’Neil will not be taking over as his replacement, as the Blades eye another promotion challenge next season.

It’s believed that the new Sheffield United owners, who bought the club midway through the previous campaign, are instead keen to go in a different direction.

It has been reported by Andy Giddings that the Championship side are already close to appointing a successor to the 57-year-old.

But it’s not expected to be O’Neil at this stage, with it still unclear who will be in charge of the team for next season.

Wilder oversaw a third-place finish in the Championship, with the team narrowly missing out on promotion with a 2-1 loss to Sunderland in the play-off final.

Sheffield United’s promotion ambition

Sheffield United will have their sights set on gaining promotion to the Premier League this season, having earned 90 points in the previous campaign.

This saw them finish 14 points clear of fourth-place Sunderland, but 10 behind second-place Burnley.

Wilder previously led the Blades to promotion to the Premier League in 2019, with Paul Heckingbottom repeating the feat in 2023.

The new manager will be tasked with going one step further than Wilder managed this year, with the new owners setting their sights on the top flight.

Gary O’Neil snub puts added pressure on next coach

The next Sheffield United manager will be up against it because of how well regarded Wilder is by supporters.

That O’Neil is also being snubbed for the role will only add more pressure, as he is someone that fans would like to see come in.

This is a major decision by the new owners, COH Sports, who are severing ties with the old regime in favour of their own choice to run the team.