Exclusive: Billy Sharp reacts to big COH Sports decision at Sheffield United involving Chris Wilder | OneFootball

The 39-year-old has called for Blades fans to look to the future under Chris Wilder

Billy Sharp has exclusively given FLW his thoughts on Sheffield United’s season so far and the decision to sack, and bring back, Chris Wilder.

With the Blades currently sitting in 17th place in the Championship after 28 games played, it's fair to say nobody would've expected this from last season's play-off finalists.

Of course, though, the campaign started with Ruben Selles' short-lived tenure as manager — which ended after the Spaniard lost all six of his opening league games.

That meant Chris Wilder walked back into Bramall Lane with no points on the board and no chance to shape the squad before the window closed. Even so, Sharp wouldn’t put it past his boyhood club to 'try and get in the play-offs'.

Billy Sharp's verdict on Sheffield United's 'disruptive' 25/26 campaign

Sharp didn’t hide from the reality that this has been far from a straightforward season for Blades, with the managerial change after just a handful of games setting the tone.

The 39-year-old told FLW:- "Yeah, disruptive, continuity wasn't there from the start. They tried to make a change which, you know, the owners have every right to make their decisions, they're in charge of the football club.

"But fair play to them for putting their hands up and saying, ‘Look, we got it wrong,’ and they brought Chris back, which probably was frustrating because it was frustrating for the fans."

Given there was some speculation that the failed AI recruitment strategy was a reason behind Wilder's exit in June, the frustration Sharp talks about is aimed at the Blades boss not being able to bring in his own players.

Sharp said: "The window had closed, so Chris couldn't add his own players. And yeah, they didn't win a game, didn't get a point for six games, but I think things could be worse than they are.

"So, they're in a good place now to say where they were. It could be a lot worse," the striker added. "I think now they just need to find that consistency in performances, in results, and in team selection, which I think that's the most frustrating thing for Chris at the minute.

"He'd like to pick an 11, which can play three games in a week, but I don't think he's got the ingredients to do that. He chops and changes the forwards because of fitness levels or energy levels, and then you have players like Blaster (Ollie Arblaster) who's coming back from long-term injury, who is one of Sheff United's better players, but he's not up to speed.

"He's (Arblaster) not at the levels that he wants to be at, and then you have the suspensions as well of you know two people in one game, which rules them out for three games."

In somewhat similar fashion to Sharp, Wilder made it clear to The Star that he would not entertain criticism of the midfielder. As Arblaster continues to feel his way back after the cruciate knee injury that kept him out for 13 months, Sharp has seemingly called for a bit of patience as well.

On the transfer front, Sharp added that he thinks Wilder would want, "one or two players in the January window, and then I think it'll be down to, I don't know what it is: 17–18 games to go and make a run for it and try and get in the play-offs."

With reports suggesting that the plan is for three more to link up with Ki-Jana Hoever in South Yorkshire, more players suited to Wilder's style of play would definitely help a potential surge up the table.

On actually achieving a play-off place this season, Sharp said: "I wouldn't put it past them because there's always someone who comes late."

Billy Sharp tells Sheffield United fans to "look to the future" under Chris Wilder

Regardless of how the end of this season plays out, Sharp reiterated that COH Sports would've learned a lot about the aforementioned manager situation and wants Blades fans to look beyond this season.

Sharp claimed: "They owned up to making a mistake, and they tried to bring back what they had. Sheffield United would have been in a better position if Chris had carried on, but that's gone now. You can't change that, you've got to look to the future and make changes now for the better of the club.

"Even since when I've not been there the last four years, the infrastructure, the training ground's come on, the ground's come on," he added.

Back in December, it was revealed by The Star that the club's owners had spent near £5m on said infrastructure improvements.

"I've been back a few times, and it's such an incredible club," Sharp concluded. "Fans are unbelievable and, yeah, I think you know they probably deserve better than what they're getting at the minute, but football changes quickly and there's a big game coming up next month as well which they did it last time came into some good form and then won that game."

With four games to play first until the Steel City derby on the 22nd February, hope remains high from Sharp that Wilder can add to his squad and put together a good run of form.