Sheffield United shake-up truth emerges as Alan Knill update revealed | OneFootball

Despite initial reports, Alan Knill's imminent departure from Sheffield United is not believed to be an ownership decision.

It is set to be an important summer for Sheffield United after an underwhelming season in the Championship.

After a nightmare start to the season under Ruben Selles, Sheffield United brought Chris Wilder back to the club for a third spell in charge in September, and he made a strong initial impact after his return to Bramall Lane.

However, despite talk of a late play-off push, it was a disappointing second half of the season for the Blades, with Wilder's men eventually finishing 13th in the table, 13 points adrift of the top six.

Speaking in April, Wilder warned his squad that there would be "a lot of changes" this summer, and as he begins his rebuild, Ben Mee, Jairo Riedewald, Tom Davies and Danny Ings will depart at the end of their current deals, while Mark McGuinness is said to be one of the under-contract players who could be made available for transfer.

There is likely to be plenty of upheaval in the United squad over the coming months, but there is also set to be an unexpected change among the club's coaching staff, with Wilder's long-time assistant Alan Knill heading for the exit door.

Sheffield United truth revealed about Alan Knill's imminent Bramall Lane exit

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Wilder began his coaching partnership with Knill when he served as his assistant at Bury before the roles were reversed when he hired the 61-year-old as his number two after taking over at Northampton Town in January 2014.

Knill then followed Wilder to Sheffield United in May 2016, and the pair oversaw a period of success at Bramall Lane that included promotions from League One and the Championship, as well as a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Wilder and Knill then linked up again at Middlesbrough and Watford before two further spells with the Blades, but after reuniting for a seventh time in September, it seems their coaching partnership is now set to come to an end.

It was first revealed by The Star on Thursday afternoon that Knill would be departing Sheffield United this summer after the owners made the call to relieve him of his duties with "an eye on the future", and the news was said to have "come as a shock" to Wilder's right-hand man.

However, BBC Radio Sheffield journalist Rob Staton has since clarified the situation, explaining that the ownership had no influence on the decision, and Knill's exit is instead part of a wider reshuffle of the backroom staff that will also see first-team coach Guilherme Ramos leave the club.

With both Knill and Ramos departing, United are reportedly planning to make at least one addition to the coaching staff, but it remains to be seen how much influence Wilder will have on any potential appointments.

Sheffield United supporters will be relieved by fresh Alan Knill update

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It was just under a year ago that Sheffield United made the controversial decision to replace Wilder with Selles, and after reports emerged that the owners had decided to dispense with Knill's services, Blades supporters would have feared that history may be repeating itself.

While it is still unclear why Knill is leaving Bramall Lane, the fact that the ownership are not behind his exit will come as a relief to United fans, many of whom are keen to see Wilder be given full control over football matters this time around after the disastrous events of last summer.

However, Knill's sudden exit has raised plenty of eyebrows among the Blades faithful, and it will be intriguing to hear Wilder's thoughts on the situation as he prepares to begin life in the dugout without the man who he has previously described as "integral" to the club's success.