Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Football Reporting
Football Reporting

Premier League

Chris Wilder breaks silence on Sheffield United axe with statement after exit controversy


Chris Wilder has broken his silence on his Sheffield United axe in a lengthy heartfelt statement reflecting on his time at the club.

The 51-year-old’s five-year spell at Bramall Lane came to an end last month in confusing circumstances.

Wilder’s departure by mutual consent was eventually announced by the club around 48 hours after rumours began emerging that he would be sacked.

The decision came as little real surprise in the grand scheme of things, given the Blades were rock bottom of the Premier League with just four wins and 14 points this season.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

However, Wilder’s swift exit had taken the playing staff aback as striker David McGoldrick admitted to talkSPORT they found out on social media and hadn’t seen it coming.

Chris Wilder has released a statement following his exit from Sheffield United last month
Chris Wilder has released a statement following his exit from Sheffield United last month

The whole episode was shrouded in controversy, as during weeks of speculation, Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah claimed Wilder had twice tried to resign already and demanded a huge payoff.

“I told Chris, if we lose every game until the end of the season, we are not going to fire you,” Abdullah told Sky Sports at the end of March.

“The emails started between his representatives and our financial guy and we were astonished to find he had asked for £4m to resign.”

Wilder’s reasoning, as per Abdullah, was that Sheffield United needed a “new voice”, after he had steered them all the way from League One to a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Now finally, weeks after he departed the club, Wilder has had his say as he gave thanks for the support he received, while also reiterating his belief that the lack of fans in stadiums was a factor in the team’s downturn in form.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“When I walked back into Bramall Lane, in May 2016, having been given the chance to manage the Club I’d supported all my life, who could have predicted the next four-and-a-half years?” he said, via a statement on

.

“It has been some journey and one I’m immensely proud of.”

Wilder cited the many achievements he recorded during his tenure, including “important victories at Hillsborough, Elland Road and Old Trafford, collecting a record 100 points (in League One), open top bus parades”.

Their peak may even have been higher too, had the season not been disrupted by Covid-19, with the Blades in good form. and a European spot in their sights.

“Who knows how far we could have gone,” Wilder said.

He then thanked key figures at the club such as Billy Sharp and his backroom team, as well as his family, but hailed the supporters as “a driving force of the whole operation”.

“As proved this season, football is just not the same without fans and I stand by the comment that I’ve made on numerous occasions, the Club have missed out more than most, Unitedites have the ability to turn losses into draws and draws into wins.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

“I cannot stress enough how important the fans are and I’ve been humbled by the unequivocal support, even this season when things haven’t gone so well.”

Since his exit Wilder has been linked with other roles, including the vacant job at Celtic, but insisted he has no immediate plans to get back into management.

He added: “I would like to wish everyone associated with the football club & the owners the very best in the future. This Football Club will always hold a special place in my heart, it has from an early age and that will never change.

“Thanks again for everything.”





Source link

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

Champions League

Editor’s note: this interview with Adil Rami was conducted by Martin Mosnier for Eurosport France in a Q&A format, and then translated and written...

Bayern Munich

Alphonso Davies is out of contract with Bayern Munich next year and his agent has hit back at comments from the club’s sporting director...

Bayern Munich

FC Bayern Women follow last weekend’s 4-0 win away at Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga with another pivotal fixture as the Munich ladies host Eintracht...

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund will be away to FC Bayern Munich on Saturday. Kick-off is at 18:30 CET. We have compiled all the info on our...