Exclusive: Sky Sports expert takes aim at Sheffield United owners over "crazy" Chris Wilder decision | OneFootball

The boyhood Blades fan is back in the Bramall Lane dugout for a third time

Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert Lee Hendrie has praised the Sheffield United board for the re-appointment of Chris Wilder, although he admits the 57-year-old shouldn't have been dismissed three months ago either.

Wilder and the Blades go completely hand-in-hand, with the Sheffield-born man transitioning from a supporter on the Bramall Lane terraces to a player and then a manager on two separate occasions, during which the club found itself in contrasting predicaments.

Unsurprisingly, it was viewed as extremely bold and controversial when ownership group, COH Sports - who had only acquired control of the South Yorkshire club last December - decided to relieve Wilder of his duties in June, weeks after United suffered even more heartbreak in the Championship play-offs, losing the final 2-1 to Sunderland in agonising fashion at Wembley Stadium through Tommy Watson's 94th-minute winner.

Ruben Selles was swiftly appointed as his replacement. However, the Spaniard's reign couldn't have gone any worse despite an influx of new signings off the back of the hierarchy adopting an AI-based transfer strategy, with the Blades still the only club yet to accumulate a point in the second-tier.

United lost all six of Selles' matches across all competitions, with the final straw coming last Friday in a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

However, Hendrie, like most people, has praised the board for their swift action, which saw Wilder reinstated in his post on Monday afternoon.

Lee Hendrie praises Sheffield United hierarchy for "crazy" Chris Wilder reappointment following Ruben Selles disaster

As previously mentioned, Wilder is someone who needs no introduction to United supporters, or those of EFL rivals either, such is the reputation which he has developed in recent years in the Steel City.

The lifelong supporter has overseen two major rebuilds in the dugout in S2, with the first seeing the club rise from League One to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League in a three-year period, before nearly masterminding an immediate return to the top-flight last term despite the initial backdrop of a two-point deduction.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie believes that someone of Wilder's presence is exactly what the Blades need in their current situation, whilst also taking aim at COH Sports for deciding to part ways with the experienced coach in the first place.

"Yes. 100 percent (it's the right decision)," Hendrie told FLW.

"Why they got rid of him in the first place was an absolute shocker.

"I'm not saying that it was inevitable what happened with Ruben Selles getting sacked. But, I think that football club needs a heartbeat at the forefront of it all.

"That's what Chris Wilder had," the former Blades midfielder stated.

"Let's not forget they had a two-point deduction, they got to the play-off final. I thought they played well in the final as well, they were unfortunate to not the win. Sunderland ended up finishing stronger.

"That's where, I think, they should've stuck with Chris. They know exactly what he brings to that football club. He lives and breathes Sheffield United," Hendrie claimed.

"I called this weeks ago, that he'd be back in charge. Because he should never have left the football club, I think it was massively the wrong choice to try and change the structure of the club. It hasn't worked previously when they've brought foreign managers in.

"Chris' seat was literally kept warm. It's crazy that he got sacked, it's crazy that he's come back in. But, he's the man who should come back in.

"He deserves to. He shouldn't have been sacked in the first place," Hendrie concluded.

Chris Wilder will hope to bring unity back to Sheffield United once again

After it was initially claimed that Wilder would return to his boyhood club once more, reports surfaced that Selles' short-lived tenure had caused a divide among the playing squad, which is a recipe for disaster in any club that harbours aims of yet another promotion challenge.

However, Wilder has the personality alone, as well as the tactical nous and deep understanding of the club, to get the players, staff and supporters all united towards the same aim, which can still be a top-six finish with there still being 41 games remaining in the season.

Despite there being an array of new signings, there are also some of his former players such as Michael Cooper, Harrison Burrows, Sydie Peck, Gus Hamer, Tyrese Campbell and Tom Cannon, who will hope for an immediate return to form and a new lease of life after an extremely underwhelming start to their individual and collective campaigns.

Overall, Wilder won 140 of his previous 305 games in charge over two spells, and he will hope to get the Blades' first points of the new season straight away against Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon.