Surprise Sheffield United, Ruben Selles revelation emerges - one Blades fan has labelled it a 'joke' | OneFootball

Sheffield United did not conduct a lengthy search for their new manager in the summer before offering Ruben Selles the job.

Sheffield United offered Ruben Selles the managerial job this summer without going through an extensive interview process.

The Blades have had a torrid start to the campaign, losing their first six Championship games, which has left them bottom of the table.

The fifth defeat in that sequence was a 5-0 thumping at Ipswich, prompting the board to sack Selles just months after he was appointed, with Chris Wilder returning to Bramall Lane for the third time.

Ruben Selles had a clear run at the Sheffield United job this summer

Clearly, the decision to turn to the Spaniard was one that backfired spectacularly, as he had inherited a team that reached the play-off final last season.

Yet, for whatever reason, the players didn’t respond to his methods, and despite only taking charge of five league games, it was decided that the best outcome was to part ways with Selles.

In a fresh development, further details have emerged about how the ex-Reading chief managed to get the job in the first place - and they don’t reflect well on the Blades’ new owners.

As per the Daily Mail, professional poker player James Bord has become an influential figure among the group that owns the club, with a focus on analytics.

The update explains that data was a big factor in Selles’ arrival, and there was no ‘exhaustive shortlisting or interview process’. Instead, Selles was approached and told the job was his if he wanted it.

Interestingly, it’s claimed the 42-year-old, who was dismissed by Hull last summer, had been ‘pitching for jobs in League One, and he was a target for Huddersfield Town before Sheffield United came along.

As you would expect, this didn’t go down too well with the Blades support, who questioned the owners…

Another supporter offered a frank assessment, describing the update as a 'joke'.

One fan also felt this offered a worrying outlook on what the future may hold under the owners.

Finally, it was suggested that the Blades' ownership were naive with their approach this summer, with a hope that they have learnt from their mistakes.

Sheffield United owners must back Chris Wilder

This is obviously a concerning update, as it shows the process in the summer was a poor one, and it has already cost the Blades both financially and on the pitch, as they're bottom of the table.

So, the owners can't afford to repeat those mistakes, although some will naturally wonder if they did consider other candidates before turning to Wilder given how quickly he came in following Selles' exit.

But, Wilder is a proven manager at this level, and he has shown he will deliver success in the right setup, which means it's down to the owners to back him properly.

It will be intriguing to see how the dynamic works between Wilder and the owners - and they need it to work very quickly, otherwise it could be a long, hard season for Sheffield United.