Ex-Leeds United boss set to take caretaker charge of Sheffield United after Chris Wilder departure

Former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom is set to take caretaker charge of Sheffield United following Chris Wilder’s departure.
Chris Wilder is set to leave Sheffield United, according to reports. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Chris Wilder is set to leave Sheffield United, according to reports. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chris Wilder is set to leave Sheffield United, according to reports. (Photo by MIKE EGERTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Wilder has been in charge at Bramall Lane for five years having taken his boyhood club from League One to the Premier League.

After challenging for Europe last season, the Blades’ form has slumped dramatically this season, leaving Wilder’s side bottom of the table, 12 points from safety with 10 games to go.

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With their struggles on their pitch apparent, tension has also been building behind the scenes between Wilder and the Blades’ hierarchy.

Former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

It is claimed HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the club’s owner, wants to appoint a director of football.

And according to reports, the former Northampton Town boss is poised to leave his role today.

Sheffield United had been scheduled to hold the first part of their pre-match media conference ahead of Sunday’s visit to Leicester City this morning, with Wilder set to face journalists via Zoom after lunch.

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However, the club confirmed a player would not be appearing for interview as planned, suggesting something was going on behind the scenes.

Heckingbottom, who was sacked by Leeds and replaced by Marcelo Bielsa after just four months at Elland Road, is set to take charge of the Blades’ match at Leicester City on Sunday.

Since leaving the Whites in 2018, Heckingbottom had a brief spell at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian before joining the Blades as under-23s coach.