What Chris Wilder has said about Sheffield United sacking - he has spoken to Sky Sports | OneFootball

The former Blades boss reveals the unexpected turn of events after his play-off final loss to Sunderland

Former Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has opened up about being sacked, a move he has revealed he “wasn’t expecting” in a recent appearance on Sky Sports.

The 57-year-old took charge of the Blades for the second time in his managerial career in December 2023, but departed the club for a second time in June this year after failing to beat Sunderland in the Championship play-off final.

His seat was then taken by ex-Hull City boss Ruben Selles, with Wilder still yet to take up another role.

With no club to manage, Sky Sports had him in the studio ahead of their Wrexham v Southampton broadcast, and found an opportunity to ask him about the end of his second Blades tenure.

Sheffield United sacking unexpected by Chris Wilder

The official wording of United’s club statement claimed a “mutually agreed decision” between themselves and Wilder, but in expressing his shock to Sky, the coach gave the impression he wasn’t the one driving the departure.

“Yeah, it stings, of course it does,” Wilder told Sky Sports, discussing the exit. "I wasn’t expecting it, of course.

“But as I said, these things happen, and you have to move on. I wish the club all the best.

“It’s a club I’ve had a fantastic journey with, in two spells, and I really enjoyed last season.”

Sheffield United “challenges” outlined by Chris Wilder

But it would not be a happy ending for the Blades, with them coming so close to achieving promotion back to the Premier League, but for a comeback win for the Black Cats.

In summing up United’s failure, Wilder references issues he feels were not appreciated by those outside the club, and the incredible outputs of Leeds United and Burnley.

The former Blades manager continued: “Obviously, it ended in heartbreak, but I think there were a load of big challenges there that maybe, inside, internally in the football industry, people recognised. Outside, I don’t think they recognised the challenges that we had

“You know, for the two clubs to get 100 points, which was an amazing achievement, absolutely amazing achievement from Burnley and Leeds United.

“Statistically, we were the third-best team in the division, we went into the play-offs, put in two outstanding performances, and I think everyone recognises in a one-off game, things can happen.”

Chris Wilder assesses play-off final loss against Sunderland

The Blades headed to Wembley in May the clear favourites, as few would have expected Sunderland to get that far at the beginning of the season, whereas Wilder’s side were always targeting promotion.

The game started in the Yorkshire club’s favour, with an injury to Sunderland captain Luke O’Nien followed shortly by the opening goal from Tyrese Campbell.

But the Blades faded in the second half, and Eliezer Mayenda’s leveller was followed up in the dying seconds of injury time by a now-famous Tom Watson winner.

“From my point of view, we looked at the final, there’s certain things we could have dealt with and done a little bit better with, and some things that were out of our control” Wilder admitted, after congratulating Sunderland, “Sometimes, it’s just not meant to be.

“My group were a young group, I think we were the third-youngest in the division as well, and [the play-off final] it’s no place for losing.

“Unfortunately, it was a difficult afternoon for us, and then the news later on, regarding my situation. Yeah, it’s not been the best of summers, but you have to get on with it.”

Quite what Wilder’s plans are next remains to be seen, but his appearance on such a prominent show suggests he isn’t yet ready to fade into the background.

His second Sheffield United spell creates a trio of relatively short tenures with Watford and Middlesbrough coming before that, a trend he will surely want to put a stop to if he is to take another head coach role.

As a boyhood Blades fan, no posting will mean as much as the one he has just been removed from, but Wilder seems determined to pick himself up from that fateful loss at Wembley.