Alan Biggs on a week at Sheffield United that saw Chris Wildeer depart and Ruben Selles become the new boss
Despite the outrage, Chris Wilder’s bizarre resignation from Sheffield United will soon be forgotten and relegated to the category of “that’s football.”
This is equally terrifying for the game as the decision itself.
The last time that file was opened at Bramall Lane, Wilder left for the first time – and that didn’t go so well, did it? Initially, at least.
The problem with the “that’s football” myth is that it conditioned us to be obedient and immune to the whims of modern club owners over things that, on the surface, make no sense.
For example, less than five months ago, Wilder was offered a new contract through the summer of 2028. So, what? That is football.
Imagine being branded a failure after a season of near-total rebuilding that began with recruitment almost halfway complete. So, what? That is football.
Like a takeover of the AI recruitment paradigm, despite the fact that United has spent three of the last five seasons in the Premier League and is on track to make four in six. That is football.
I’d put Wilder’s departure even more firmly in that category than the first time in 2021. The reasons were simple and logical: a breakdown with the board.
There are no personality difficulties this time, as far as I am aware. Which makes it all the more strange that Sheffield United’s new owners, COH Sports, would oversee the resignation of one of the club’s most successful managers.
And yet, it’s no big surprise, which smells of the absurd following the Wilder-led turnaround of last season, when the club was never expected to win promotion and only missed out by one game.
Wilder was effectively fired regardless of whether he was sacked. The board’s utter silence in the nearly four weeks since Wembley effectively smoked him out.
Everyone is being treated horribly. Terrible public relations, albeit that having numerous investors would have complicated matters.
The central issue in Chris Wilder’s exit
One major concern was that COH Sports sought to weaken this popular and successful leader’s proven approaches and replace his recruitment goals with the spearhead shift to AI.
The hiring of replacement Ruben Selles as more of a head coach than a “manager” title confirms this, as does a projected director of football, with board adviser Des Taylor thought to be in the race.
Again, that is football. Only time will tell whether it was dumb. But it’d better not be.
There will be several reminders of what the club has abandoned when so much seemed perfect.
Sheffield United owners’ decision is destruction rather than innovation
Of course, you expect and welcome some level of innovation from new proprietors. Otherwise, what is the point? But not what appears to be such widespread ruin.
You might say “that’s football” for Chris Wilder, too. But Sheffield United meant a little more to him than that.
And far more than anyone else who has walked in his footsteps.
Despite all of this, no one is denying that the club can succeed. Football moves rapidly, and memories are brief.
But that’s a difficult act to follow when, in my opinion, it shouldn’t have been done at all.
Will the Blades get promoted next season? I would have thought there was a very good probability. Now I seriously doubt it.
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