Sheff Utd set to replace Wilder with Selles
Chris Wilder was given a three-year contract in January but is expected to be sacked by Sheffield United on Wednesday [Getty Images]
Sheffield United are expected to confirm the departure of manager Chris Wilder on Wednesday after they failed to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
Former Southampton, Reading and Hull City manager, Ruben Selles, is expected to take over at Bramall Lane after Wilder's departure is confirmed.
Advertisement
The Blades finished third in the Championship but lost to Sunderland in injury time in the play-off final last month.
Wilder, 57, was in his second spell in charge of his boyhood team and had been looking to guide them to promotion for the third time.
His imminent exit means that of the three teams who failed to go up through the Championship play-offs, only Coventry City will start next season with the same manager.
Wilder initially took over at Bramall Lane in May 2016 and guided them to the League One title in his first season in charge.
Promotion to the Premier League followed two years later and they finished ninth in their first season in the top flight.
Advertisement
However, they struggled badly the following season, and Wilder was sacked in March 2021 with relegation inevitable.
He had spells with Middlesbrough and Watford before returning to Bramall Lane in December 2023, after Paul Heckingbottom was sacked with the Blades bottom of the Premier League.
Two-point deduction
Wilder was unable to arrest the slide, as they ended the season having conceded 101 goals and accumulated just 16 points.
They started last season with a two-point deduction because of missed transfer payments in the 2022-23 campaign but challenged at the top of the division throughout.
A long-mooted takeover by American-based consortium COH Sports was completed in December, and Wilder signed a new three-year deal in January.
Advertisement
With seven games to go, they were two points clear at the top of the league. But they then lost three matches in eight days to Oxford United, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle.
While another defeat at Burnley - a fourth in five games - condemned them to the play-offs, despite finishing the regular season with 90 points.
They cruised into the play-off final with a thumping 6-0 aggregate win over Bristol City and took the lead in the final at Wembley against the Black Cats.
A second goal was controversially ruled out by VAR - the only match in the Championship in which the system was used all season - and Sunderland came back to equalise.
Advertisement
Then down to 10 men temporarily, with a player off injured and all their substitutes used, Tommy Watson score a 95th-minute winner for the Black Cats.
It stretched their wretched run in the play-offs to no successes from 10 attempts and leaves them facing up to another season in the second tier.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Breaking: Liverpool Confirm the Arrival of Fifth Summer Signing
Liverpool Move for Freddie Woodman Adds Depth Behind the Scenes Liverpool have taken another calculated step in bolstering their squad ahead of the new campaign, agreeing to sign goalkeeper Freddie Woodman on a free transfer. The 28-year-old will link up with Arne Slot's title-winning side when pre-season begins at the AXA Training Centre next month, following the expiry of his contract with Preston North End. Goalkeeping Reinforcements for Slot's Second Season Fresh from winning the Premier League title in his debut season, Arne Slot is shaping a Liverpool squad that can sustain challenges on multiple fronts. With Champions League football returning to Anfield, depth across the pitch is essential. The addition of Freddie Woodman, who made 138 appearances in three years for Preston North End, offers experience and reliability without altering the club's wage structure. Advertisement Woodman was a standout figure at Deepdale and was rewarded with Preston's Player of the Year award in the 2022–23 season. At 28, he is entering the peak years for a goalkeeper and brings a solid foundation built at clubs such as Newcastle United, Swansea City and Kilmarnock. Experience Built from Lower Leagues to Top Ambitions Though Woodman never nailed down a long-term role in the Premier League, his experience across the English Football League and in Scotland has forged a mentally strong, technically sound shot-stopper. His consistency at Preston North End, a side often punching above its weight in the Championship, made him one of the more respected keepers outside the top flight. He will not be expected to challenge for Liverpool's number one shirt immediately, particularly with the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili earlier in the window. However, his signing offers vital coverage and competition during what promises to be a packed fixture calendar. Woodman will join fellow newcomers Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez as part of a well-planned summer rebuild. Slot's Strategy Emphasises Stability and Opportunity The signing also reflects the evolving structure under Slot. While marquee names capture headlines, deals like Woodman's hint at a methodical approach. Slot wants his squad built not only for quality, but also for cohesion, balance and adaptability. As Liverpool prepare for another intense campaign, adding a dependable figure like Woodman without transfer fee outlay is a reflection of strategic squad management. 'Freddie Woodman has agreed a contract with the Reds to bolster the goalkeeping ranks upon the expiry of his previous deal with Preston North End,' the club confirmed. His move is low-risk but potentially high-reward in maintaining Liverpool's high standards across all competitions.
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
London City Lionesses set to sign defender Poppy Pattinson after Brighton exit
London City Lionesses are set to complete the signing of left-back Poppy Pattinson on a free transfer from Brighton and Hove Albion. It was announced in May that Pattinson, 25, would be departing Brighton when her contract expires this summer. The former England youth international had offers from elsewhere in the Women's Super League, including from Everton, but has opted to join the newly-promoted London City ahead of their debut season in the top flight. London City won promotion to the WSL on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign following a summer of significant investment under the ownership of Michele Kang. U.S. business woman Kang completed the takeover of London City in February 2024, with Sweden international Kosovare Asllani and forward Izzy Goodwin, the Championship's top scorer from the 2023-24 campaign, among their statement signings last summer. They have already completed the addition of former Arsenal midfielder Danielle van de Donk following the expiration of her Lyon contract this summer as they prepare for their first season in the top flight. Pattinson made 18 WSL appearances for Brighton last term as the club finished fifth. She joined Brighton from Everton in 2022, having previously had spells at Bristol City, Manchester City and Sunderland.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sonic The Hedgehog Is McLaren's Newest Brand Ambassador, Even Though He's Faster On Foot
Who's Lando Norris? Move over, McLaren has a new brand ambassador, and he's one of the most dashing, debonair, and well loved celebrities on the entire planet. No, not Brad Pitt — we're talking about none other than Sonic the Hedgehog. A video game hero since the early 1990s, Sonic has officially inked a deal with McLaren Racing. This makes his parent company SEGA the "Official Gaming Partner of McLaren Racing." This actually isn't the first time Sonic and the House of Papaya have crossed paths. Way back in 1993, when Sonic was all the rage, he was no less than the actual trophy at the European Grand Prix, won by McLaren's own legend, Ayrton Senna. But that was back when the hedgehog was young. Now he's all grown up, and while his archrival Mario remains stuck in karting leagues, the big blue boy has made it all the way to Formula 1. Even though he's faster on foot. What a champ. Read more: Every 2025 Formula 1 Livery, Ranked From Worst To Best McLaren says that the partnership with SEGA will bring "creative integrations and experiences that fuse the worlds of motorsport and gaming, and engage audiences of all ages both on the grid and screen." Oscar Piastri as a character in the next Sonic racing game, maybe? Certainly, as F1 flirts with esports and the video game world more, a direct pairing between the two industries makes sense. Both companies also have big milestones next year: Sonic turns 35 (I remember when he was just a pup!), and McLaren will race in its 1,000th Grand Prix. In fact, the joint festivities begin as soon as next week. The orange-shirted ones will descend on Trafalgar Square for McLaren Racing Live: London on July 2-3. Netflix heartthrob Zak Brown will be there, as well as some classic McLaren cars, Q&A sessions with team members, and, of course, merch. SEGA will be there, too. The real question, naturally, will be whether or not Sonic becomes a trophy again. No word on that one, but if you just believe, it will happen. As to when the first Green Hill Zone Grand Prix will be, you'd have to check the 2026 F1 calendar. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
