Board left with no choice

[Chingo]

There is also the possibility that they hire a new manager who is actually good at their job, and everything works out.
There are good managers out there, and Chris isn't the only one.

What they have done is add an element of risk because, (at least in my opinion) we had a very good manager in place, but it's not that good football manager aren't freely available. They are out there, you just need to be able to identify them and bring them in.
My concern would be looking at who they've appointed at the new French club, I'm hoping someone like Bettis has more of a hand in it.

Don’t have much confidence in the prince finding anyone good or better than wilder , our only hope is the same luck that landed the prince the club for next to nowt carries on when he picks a manager

 

[Le Cynique]

That is true. Wilder isn’t blameless. But he had to bring someone in - and we we’ve gone for potential over “quality today” because of initial costs and wage structures.

Potential, by definition, means the quality isn’t there today.

Jack Robinson, Ben Osborne, Max Lowe, Jack Rodwell, Ravel Morrison, Wes Foderingham. They're neither Premier League quality, nor potential for the future. They're an utter waste of fucking money.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Don’t have much confidence in the prince finding anyone good or better than wilder , our only hope is the same luck that landed the prince the club for next to nowt carries on when he picks a manager

Luck or legal incompetence?

 

[BlairBlade]

It does - but my conclusion from that is the fault lies with not being able to compete, not it being primarily Wilder's fault, to which I think you're alluding.

True - I have been very concerned at how much he has spent and on whom as well as a number of other matters.
I appreciate there is every chance those players will come good - and obviously no one expects a manager to get every transfer spot on and 100% right.
However, taking into account what he knew to be the case - wages, transfer fees, how tough the League is, etc I believe that he should (no doubt with help that may or may not have been there or not wanted) concentrated on what was needed this season. Keeping us up.
Last season should have been enough of an indication that at the very least we were punching above our weight and we needed to address the team for this season.
For whatever reason(s) he did not do that.
It is not all his fault by any means.
But he runs the training, picks the team, chooses the bench, decides on the subs during matches, talks to the press, has been known to make comments, etc., etc.
He has to shoulder a large amount of the responsibility for the situation we are in

 

[Nagima]

The board had the choice. They chose to jeopardise everything Wilder built since he came in in 2016. When we were in League One. Ah well, at least some got their wish.

While not in the Wilder out camp there has been a worrying trend over the last few months. It's obvious that Chris wasn't happy with the board and he has been quite vocal that there is a plan and that it needs to be stuck to. The lack of recruitment in the January window may have been an issue for Chris, but we were already adrift at the bottom so I didn't have an issue with that one. As for his demands that all the top players be kept I largely agree but wouldn't have an issue if Berge went for decent money. It would allow us to invest to plug holes in the squad.
Chris has done a great job in bringing the club to where it is and personally I would have liked him to stay. But if the relationship with the board is as broken as it seems then a parting of the ways was inevitable. Everything is in jeopardy now but to what extent depends on who we get in and how stable the club is in terms of finance and vision.
It's not where we want to be but where we are.

 

[LudlamBlade]

I've just been talking about it all with a mate and he's said he wouldn't be surprised to see Wilder go to West Brom when Allardyce unsurprisingly leaves after they go down

 

[Kenilworth]

Back to fucking mediocrity is where we are off to.

Back to the match day experience where the football fucking ruins it.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

When the board and manager fall out, there is only usually one outcome. Slagging your boss off in public has never been a good policy, so sadly I feared this was coming.

 

[Bladesince59]

Lets face it, the writing's been on the wall. And I really doubt Prince and co wanted it to come to this, because they know exactly what Wilder means to the fanbase.

But. Every press conference if it hasn't been blowing smoke up the opposition's arse has been thinly veiled digs at the board.
He's been struggling like never before so he's been punching out, I get that, but destroying your relationship with those above you probably isn't a good idea.
Dragging our crap through the media has been very unsavoury to see, and it's only been from one party.

He's been backed, to the volume NO manager of this club ever has been, or likely ever will be again in the near future. To the sound of £130m.
The transfers haven't been a particular success so the board are rumoured to want a DoF in, that's a good model to follow and all the elite (and the majority of the Prem) have in place. It's thinking to the future. Chris didn't like it. But if he can't work with a DoF he'll never get a job at a top club.

Thanks for everything Chris, and I'm sad it's had to happen like this. But I really think it's for the best for all concerned.
We I suspect will now get a DoF in place and create a new club structure which we will need to become a sustainable PL club (fucking hell, even Burnley have one).
I expect him to take a little break and get a job at a Championship club angling for promotion late next season. And that will be really sad to see him in the opposition dugout.

The club isn't ending, managers come and go, although this one hurts at the minute. And it hurts we didn't get to say goodbye or thank him for the previous 4 years.
My personal views on the situation and this season aside, he is the best I've ever seen and I literally have CWAK tattooed on my arse.

Can I just exclaim, Wilder is not bigger than Sheffield United. We will move on as a club it's a sad day, but we won't end up back in League 1 nor will we stop as a football club.

We had the worst start in PL history and no manager would have survived that in world football never mind the PL. The board stuck with him, we have improved but after the Soton performance, you can see somethings not right. Wilder has had digs at fans, the boards, refs, players and never took any of the blame on himself.

The transfers have been subpar the lack of formation changes, which have bewildered me at times when we have no CB's. A lot of this adds up.

I have seen the best years of the best years under Wilder, but we move on as a club and we can't stop supporting Sheffield United even if you don't agree.

We are Sheffield United FC NOT Wilder FC!!!

Agreed. And the one person whose fault it never is....is Wilder.

He leaves us in a far better state than when he took over, now it's over to the board to put their plans into play. And none of this 'it will set us back 10 years' bollocks, we are about to go down with parachute payments and the basics of a great championship squad. Few additions here and there, create a new structure at the club with a DoF and a European scouting network - and with a good manager at the helm we'll be up there. Don't you worry about that.
But again, thanks for everything Chris. Brought our club back from the dead and we will never forget it. Legend.

View attachment 107863

 

[S40BLADE]

I've just been talking about it all with a mate and he's said he wouldn't be surprised to see Wilder go to West Brom when Allardyce unsurprisingly leaves after they go down

They have a DoF/Technical Director. Wilder would need to change his principles, can 100% see him somewhere like that though.

 

[Le Cynique]

Back to fucking mediocrity is where we are off to.

Back to the match day experience where the football fucking ruins it.

Mediocrity would be an upgrade on this season, frankly.

 

[Bladesince59]

It's never Wilder's fault is a common theme.

 

[LudlamBlade]

They have a DoF/Technical Director. Wilder would need to change his principles, can 100% see him somewhere like that though.

There or Palace. Think he'd be perfect for Palace, no DoF and happy to back the manager financially.

Still can't really believe this.

Dreading this presser.

 

[alcoblade]

Jack Robinson, Ben Osborne, Max Lowe, Jack Rodwell, Ravel Morrison, Wes Foderingham. They're neither Premier League quality, nor potential for the future. They're an utter waste of fucking money.

Yes, you have to fill your stocking with something. The quality of which depends on the thickness of your wallet.

Only Wes Foderingham hasn't been used. The rest have, and returned exactly the quality you'd expect for what we paid.

 

[alcoblade]

Mediocrity would be an upgrade on this season, frankly.

But only an imbecile would be ranking Wilder on this season alone.

 

[Mendi]

Sad to see to leaving but why make the change now not before hand.

 

[SilkyBlade]

Lets face it, the writing's been on the wall. And I really doubt Prince and co wanted it to come to this, because they know exactly what Wilder means to the fanbase.

But. Every press conference if it hasn't been blowing smoke up the opposition's arse has been thinly veiled digs at the board.
He's been struggling like never before so he's been punching out, I get that, but destroying your relationship with those above you probably isn't a good idea.
Dragging our crap through the media has been very unsavoury to see, and it's only been from one party.

He's been backed, to the volume NO manager of this club ever has been, or likely ever will be again in the near future. To the sound of £130m.
The transfers haven't been a particular success so the board are rumoured to want a DoF in, that's a good model to follow and all the elite (and the majority of the Prem) have in place. It's thinking to the future. Chris didn't like it. But if he can't work with a DoF he'll never get a job at a top club.

Thanks for everything Chris, and I'm sad it's had to happen like this. But I really think it's for the best for all concerned.
We I suspect will now get a DoF in place and create a new club structure which we will need to become a sustainable PL club (fucking hell, even Burnley have one).
I expect him to take a little break and get a job at a Championship club angling for promotion late next season. And that will be really sad to see him in the opposition dugout.

The club isn't ending, managers come and go, although this one hurts at the minute. And it hurts we didn't get to say goodbye or thank him for the previous 4 years.
My personal views on the situation and this season aside, he is the best I've ever seen and I literally have CWAK tattooed on my arse.
He leaves us in a far better state than when he took over, now it's over to the board to put their plans into play. And none of this 'it will set us back 10 years' bollocks, we are about to go down with parachute payments and the basics of a great championship squad. Few additions here and there, create a new structure at the club with a DoF and a European scouting network - and with a good manager at the helm we'll be up there. Don't you worry about that.

But again, thanks for everything Chris. Brought our club back from the dead and we will never forget it. Legend.

View attachment 107863

He arrived when we were L1, only 4yrs ago, and he departs when we are in the PL after one of our most successful seasons...in isolation that statement, whatever side of the fence you sit on, is unfathomable...in any walk of life.

I can’t comment on demands made, board relationships etc as my only sources come from the media and I simply refuse to believe a word they say given the constant inaccuracies, false statements etc.

I can comment on Wilder leaving and the impact that will have on our team.

1. You are right the team is stronger and I have no doubt under CWAK with some additional investment this team, by dropping down a level and gaining confidence, would give us a strong chance of bouncing back. Norwich are a good example of this....the only relegated team to keep their manager.

2. You are wrong to dismiss the claims out of hand that the club will go backwards. The relegated teams have found it tough going in the Championship having sacked their managers. In addition, those teams were not required to utilise a significant proportion of the PL monies to purchase the clubs infrastructure. The cap ex for recruitment, club assets etc has already been borrowed from future years guaranteed income. We know the Prince’s financial model is strictly based on a self sufficient basis. Ie as the income lessens so will the investment. Statistically, success follows large scale investment. £130M in this day and age is not large scale investment. Only once in a generation managers can tilt the scales of which Wilder has proven he is one.

3. This brings us to the next Manager. A successful established manager will want/require assurances. If we suspect this is one of the reasons Wilder leaves, those assurances it would seem can’t be given. Therefore, more likely a manager out of work who’s principles lessen each day he is out of work or a young up and coming manager who’s principles are not yet clearly defined. Both enormous risks in a cut throat Championship league given the new manager needs time to bed in new ideas/philosophies. If you don’t get promoted in the first season again statistically it is harder to get promoted following seasons...even more so when the model is a self financing one.

4. Wilder has made mistakes. The risk, however, as detailed above, of replacing him far outweighs the benefit.

5. On an emotional level, he deserved better and whatever has gone on he required some loyalty and some backing at least for another season. It’s a terribly sad day for this club.

 

[alcoblade]

He has to shoulder a large amount of the responsibility for the situation we are in

I completely agree with that.

I just don't think, on balance, that his negatives for us nearly compete with his positives.

And in a short amount of time we will all see, with depressing predictability, that his replacement won't nearly measure up, and as a club we'll be wondering what the fuck we've done.

 

[Kenilworth]

Mediocrity would be an upgrade on this season, frankly.

So,forget all that came before, eh? Just like that? On one unprecedented event?

You full well know the extenuating circumstances of this season, yet you spout off that this is the same as the season under Adkns or a 10 game run under Weir?

• Let me remind you that under Adkins we had the walk of shame after the Scunny match end of season game
• Let me remind you that under Adkins the fans and the players were so far from each other the club felt a complete disassociation with anything United.
• Let me remind you that under Adkins that the whole match day experience was spoiled completely by the football.
• Let me remind you that under Adkins we had fucking geese and the largest room in the house was the fucking room for improvement
• Let me remind you that under Adkins we were fucking shit.

Then Wilder happened.

Lest we fucking forget.

Fucking bunch of lightweight, moronic, wet wipes.

 

[ChezVegasBlade]

My suspicion is that the board have failed to deliver on too many things, most notably wage budget, January loans and finally training facilities upgrades being the last straw.. Does not bode well for the club going forward....

 

[blade too long]

Heckingbottom will likely take the rest of the season, since it's a write off - and we'll be using that time trying to get a DoF and Manager in place for next year. I suspect.

Director of football

The way forward really
Football is a simple game
Name a director of football who's won any club promotion

Letting Wilder go will lead to where we were in 2010

Rudderless

I'm off . Can't stand keyboard managers putting in their two penny worth

Why don't they drop the blades as a nick name seeing as they are set on total destruction

Results have been shit this season but so have injuries and players have under performed

But we are at 5 star restaurant with corner chip shop money

Still 3 games from winning the fa cup but that's out the door without Wilder

 

[Yogi]

The board had a choice you always have a choice. They now need to prove they’ve made the right one and sharpish.

 

[BlairBlade]

I completely agree with that.

I just don't think, on balance, that his negatives for us nearly compete with his positives.

And in a short amount of time we will all see, with depressing predictability, that his replacement won't nearly measure up, and as a club we'll be wondering what the fuck we've done.

We all have no real expectation that things will get better (assuming he has gone) based on what has come before, time and time again.
Who knows? Maybe this time things will be different.
We live in hope - as always at the Lane.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Get some money on Heckinbottom next manager with Sky Bet. They class 10 games as a permanent appointment, so if he gets named caretaker for rest of season then the 10 league games are coverd.

 

[Barney]

All these saying board have dropped a 'clanger'.

Clearly wasnt a case of the board just dismissing him. It's either a mutual agreement or a straight up resignation.

 

[Chris the Blade]

It's obviously by mutual consent. You could tell by Wilder's demeanour over the last few weeks. Deep down he's probably relieved and will also have seven figures in the bank. He needs a break and a new project. That's how life works. Its seasonal. I wish him all the best

 

[bromtom]

Gutted but understandable if it is the case and the media aren't full of shit.

Board wants structure because of some dodgy purchases, Wilder wants control.

I wonder what the reaction would've been if he'd got rid before we beat Newcastle and had 2 points and a big chunk of the season remaining. Seems like there was a little bit of hope stirring up for being back in the Championship with Wilder, and this would extinguish it, but a few months back I don't know if people would be more in favour?

If he wanted rid he should've done it in December or January, if he doesn't want rid but wants a DoF he should give him a couple of months of the Championship to see how it turns out.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

The 4 years previous, yes. But the last year has been horrific.

It has. And nobody can deny that. However we didn’t have a Slaven Bilic in charge who had no real emotional connection to the club and had a bad season. We have(?) a Blade in charge. It cannot be stressed how rare/unique that is when it works. But above that we have a man who performed miracles to get us even challenging for promotion to the PL. Yes this season is the here and the now and has been horrendous. But you have to take a step back and see the bigger picture. He’s made mistakes - undoubtedly - but he deserves so much more from the club and fans. He deserves more time to establish the club in the top flight - the way he sees fit.

Also, it’s not really proper football as we know it. It still has titles, promotions and relegations yeah, but it’s not a level playing field. No crowds was always going to mean the more talented players in the league would impact games much more. Hostile fans and lively grounds is what makes this game the one we all love.

 

[Need4speed]

Chris has been very vocal on somethings and very quiet on others. There must be reasons behind the failure of him to play some players while persisting with others when it plainly wasn't working. It is not just this season but also happened in the first season back in the Championship once Coutts got injured. He has never really explained any selections or non selections and whilst I appreciate that if thats how he wants to do things that is up to him But i don't think it has done him any favours Just a couple of examples - why sign Burke and not play him? why sign Freeman and then not play him and then let him out on loan? why sign Callum Robinson play him lots and then let him out on loan and then sell him? Why sign Jackie Robinson? Why didn't he sign a left centre half once Jack was injured? I am not saying these decisions were wrong but there has never been any explanation of these decisions It maybe that they weren't even Wilders decisions I would just like to know

 

[RecordBreakers]

The Board have done a right clanger. Although on this board 15% wanted him gone- nearer the truth is 99.9% of true Blades wanted him to stay-

Any suggestion of 'Wilder Out' with 30,000 there , highly likely they would have been battered.

The decision stinks- folk who have been round the block know that this is a truly awful conclusion.

The 4 years he has given are the best we have had for 50 years- it is truly beyond belief.

Hes left not been sacked, he's chucked his toys out the pram and fuckd off!!