A little over 19 months after returning to Bramall Lane for a second stint in charge, the 57-year-old former Middlesbrough manager, who led his hometown team from League One to the top flight at the end of the 2018–19 season, is scheduled to be relieved of his duties after a review of the Blades’ Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Despite leading, the South Yorkshire team lost to Sunderland in the Wembley play-off final under Wilder, finishing third behind Leeds and Burnley.
That came as a huge disappointment, with the club having been heavily involved in the race for automatic promotion before winning just two of their final seven regular-season games to slip 10 points off the pace.
The former Blades defender – he made 126 appearances for the club in two spells during a playing career which also involved stints with Southampton, Rotherham, Notts County, Bradford, Brighton and Halifax – was appointed manager for the second time in December 2023 on an 18-month contract.
American-based consortium COH Sports, who completed a takeover in December last year, handed Wilder a new contract until the end of the 2027-28 season in January, but it appears his second reign is over.
The club declined to comment on the matter.
If – or when – Wilder is sacked, ex-Boro midfielder Gary O’Neil has been linked with the role. O’Neil has been out of work since being sacked at Wolves.
The bookies, however, have priced up former Reading and Hull boss Ruben Selles as an odds-on favourite to take charge at Bramall Lane. He’s as short as 1/8 to replace Wilder.
