Concern issued as Chris Wilder set for third Sheffield United manager stint - "Is it going to be too late?" | OneFootball

Chris Wilder is set for his third stint as manager at Bramall Lane following the dismissal of Ruben Selles.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Sheffield United have begun the new Championship season in abysmal fashion, losing each of their opening five league matches, with Chris Wilder set to make a sensational return to Bramall Lane following the dismissal of Ruben Selles.

After securing a third-place finish last season, achieving the highest point total ever for a third-place side, and narrowly losing out in the play-off final to Sunderland, Wilder was sacked from his position at Bramall Lane and replaced by Selles this summer.

The Spaniard had previously managed at the likes of Southampton, Reading and Hull City before taking the reins at the Blades this summer, and it would be disingenuous to suggest eyebrows weren't initially raised following his appointment.

Selles won just two of his 17 games in charge at Southampton in the Premier League, in what was his first senior managerial role. He'd depart the Saints to join League One club Reading, where he'd leave with a win percentage of 43.49% in 78 games in charge of the Royals, who were marred by off-field issues at the time.

Last season, Selles kept Hull City in the Championship on the final day of the season after his appointment in December 2024, but was sacked despite this, allowing Sheffield United to swoop in.

Now, after just six games in charge, each one ending in defeat, with Sheffield United having conceded the joint-most in the league (12) and scored the least (1), the return of Stocksbridge-born Wilder appears inevitable following the Spaniards' dismissal.

Chris Wilder poised for Sheffield United return - COH Sports decision has been backed

Football League World's Sheffield United fan pundit, Jimmy of The Blades Ramble YouTube channel, has provided us with his take on whether the Blades should appoint Wilder for a third time or whether they should have looked elsewhere.

It is a decision that Jimmy backs, although there is an obvious slight concern that given such a bad start to the season, whether it is going to be too late to mount a proper promotion push, given the lack of momentum.

"It's absolutely the right move," Jimmy told FLW.

"I don't think it (Wilder dismissal) should have happened in the first place, and I know a lot of Blades fans are agreed on that. But it did happen, and we backed the club, in hindsight it proved to be a big mistake.

"He got 90 points last season, with a very similar squad to what we have got now. I don't know anyone else that could come in and have the same immediate impact, or certainly know the squad as well as he does.

"I'm fully expecting him to return and get a tune out of this squad, the question now is, is it going to be too late to salvage anything from this season?

"I think if we forget about this terrible start, there's plenty of time left to get up that table, and first sights are on a play-off spot. I'm really excited."

Chris Wilder has an excellent record in charge at Sheffield United - his third stint needs to have a positive start ASAP

Wilder and Sheffield United go hand-in-hand.

The 57-year-old took charge of his boyhood club for the first time in May 2016, and in his first stint with the club, he helped to guide them from League One to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League in what was their first season back in the top flight.

Although he was dismissed in March 2021 after collecting just 14 points in 28 Premier League matches, Wilder left the club in a much stronger position to where he had initially found them.

Brief spells with Middlesbrough and Watford sandwiched his second stint at the Blades, where he'd rejoin them in December 2023, overseeing their relegation from the Premier League back to the Championship.

After a 90-point season, the Blades could only finish in third under Wilder, with both Leeds United and Burnley enjoying incredible seasons to deny Sheffield United an automatic place, ultimately losing out to Sunderland in the play-off final.

Now a return to the club he was dismissed from just three months ago appears imminent, and Blades fans will be hoping Wilder can work his magic once more to turn what has been a nightmare start to the campaign around.