Sheffield United set to battle Everton for ex-Brighton figure | OneFootball

David Weir has been linked with a potential return to two of his former clubs

Sheffield United are reportedly keen on plotting a reunion with David Weir in a Director of Football capacity amid the recent reappointment of Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane.

It has been a disastrous start to the Championship season for the Blades, as they remain the only side yet to accumulate a single point, losing all six of their matches in all competitions under Ruben Selles before the Spaniard was relieved of his duties by ownership group, COH Sports, on Sunday afternoon.

The hierarchy in this part of the Steel City - fronted by Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy - have come under immense scrutiny as a result of how the early-season has panned out for United, as they turned to the aforementioned Wilder to replace Selles on Monday, just three months after the boyhood supporter was handed his own P45 after the South Yorkshire side were defeated by Sunderland in dramatic fashion in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium.

However, amid the 57-year-old's latest return to S2 in a managerial capacity, there appears to be an even greater reshuffle as far as the hierarchy is concerned, with reports suggesting that former chairman, Prince Abdullah, has been sounded out over a potential return to the club in some form.

And, the theme of hiring names previously associated with the club doesn't potentially stop there, with Weir linked with a possible return of his own after recently leaving his role with Brighton and Hove Albion.

David Weir linked with return to Sheffield United in Director of Football role amid Everton competition

It has been reported by Everton News on Wednesday morning that the Blades are interested in hiring their former manager in an 'upstairs' role amid Wilder's own return to the club earlier in the week, whilst also facing strong competition from the Toffees, who he played for 266 times between 1999 and 2007.

The 55-year-old left his role as technical director at the AMEX Stadium earlier this week after seven years at the club, initially joining as pathway director in the summer of 2018 before replacing Dan Ashworth as technical director after his resignation in February 2022.

This comes amid previous claims that the Blues' new ownership group - The Friedkin Group - looked to move for Weir's signature in January after completing their takeover on Merseyside in place of Kevin Thelwell, who has since left for SPFL giants, Rangers.

However, in what could prove a blow to the Steel City outfit, the aforementioned fresh report states that moving for Weir in a new capacity could be an opportunity too good to pass up for David Moyes' side despite interest from the second-tier club.

The Falkirk-born man's previous spell at Bramall Lane came 12 years ago during the club's spell in League One.

Weir was appointed as manager in June 2013 on a three-year contract, but only lasted 13 games in the dugout across all competitions, winning once as he was dismissed in October 2013 with United residing inside the third-tier relegation zone in the early weeks of the campaign, eventually replacing his services with Nigel Clough.

David Weir links surface amid fresh Chris Wilder, Sheffield United comments

The aforementioned links, even though they may not come to fruition due to Weir's stronger association to the club who have recently moved to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, also coincide with comments from Wilder, who stated his willingness to work with a Director of Football during his latest spell in charge of the Blades.

“Anything to improve the running of the football club,” he said via the Yorkshire Post.

“The narrative is I want to do everything. That is completely wrong. I've got ideas and like to use my experience to help and collaborate.

“Ultimately, my name goes on it but there's a lot of people involved in the decision-making. Everything has to go through board approval," Wilder claimed.

“But I want to work with good people and we're on the same page.

“So if the club goes down that road and we all collaborate, there'll be times where not everything meets eye to eye, but I'll give my opinion and hopefully help the club through the experience I've gained."

It remains to be seen if this is the route which COH Sports do decide to take in a bid to improve United's short-term fortunes. However, it will be on-pitch matters on Wilder's mind at this moment in time.

Having won 140 of his previous 305 games in charge of the club, the first game of his third spell comes against Charlton Athletic at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.