Surprise new contender for Sheffield United manager’s job

There is a surprise new contender for the Sheffield United manager’s job, however it’s left many fans underwhelmed at who it is.

Some of the football world was left saddened after seeing the departure of Chris Wilder, with the Blades now looking destined for the Championship.

Paul Heckingbottom is in temporary charge, losing his first game 5-0 against Leicester, after never losing by more than a three-goal margin whilst under Chris Wilder.

Reports have since emerged that Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes as the surprise new contender for the Sheffield United manager’s job.

The 49-year-old manager departed Pittodrie after eight years at the helm, however, now finds himself on a list of managers being considered to take charge of the soon to be relegated Premier League club.

McInnes, who had a two-year spell at Bristol City after his arrival from St Johnstone in 2011, hasn’t even been out of work for a week, but is likely to be interested in a quick return to the dug-out.

The Manager and his assistant, Tony Docherty, will leave the Club with immediate effect.

AFC Chairman, Dave Cormack, said: “During his time in charge Derek raised the bar and delivered a level of consistency not seen at the Club for many years, qualifying for Europe each season, and delivering a memorable Scottish League Cup win at Celtic Park in season 2013/14 with 43,000 Dons fans in attendance.

“Clearly, results since the turn of the year have been disappointing and frustrating for everyone. Derek and I reviewed where we were and agreed that this was the right time for him to step down. The Club now has the opportunity to appoint a new manager ahead of the new season where, with a number of players out of contract, we have work to do to build a competitive squad.

“Derek and Tony leave with our thanks and gratitude for what they have achieved during their tenure. We wish them well for the future.”

MCINNES MANAGERIAL RECORD:

St Johnstone – 27 November 2007 until 19 October 2011 – 177 games, 71 wins, 53 draws, 53 defeats, 40.11 win %
Bristol City – 19 October 2011 until 12 January 2013 – 63 games, 17 wins, 14 draws, 32 defeats, 26.98 win %
Aberdeen – 7 April 2013 until 8 March 2021 – 378 games, 202 wins, 75 draws, 101 defeats, 53.44 win %
Total – 618 games, 290 wins, 142 draws, 186 defeats, 46.93 win %

Eddie Howe, Frank Lampard and Slaven Bilic are the other contenders with the process for their new manager already underway. Bookies had their markets open, but only for a brief time with Heckingbottom then appointed.

Billy Sharp gave an interview after their defeat to Leicester, saying Sheffield United are back where they were when Chris Wilder took over five years ago.

His side finished mid-table in League One when Wilder arrived at Bramall Lane to begin the journey up the leagues before then going ninth in the Premier League last season, then form went crashing down leading to one of the worst points tally in the league’s history.

An emotional Sharp said: “Unbelievable memories.

“This season we have become really poor and it needs sorting. When the gaffer came in, we were like this and we became a very good team.

“Now we’ve become a not very good team and we need to get together and find something for the fans. I feel for them at the minute.

“We’ve lost, I don’t know how many games this season, far too many. We’re going to get relegated and we need to find something to get some momentum for next season.”

Sharp branded the Blades’ display against the Foxes as their worst for five years and claims it could have been 9-0.

“No excuses, embarrassing,” said the skipper.

“It’s probably the worst performance we’ve had for five years, totally unacceptable.

“I don’t think we had a shot on target, I think that’s happened three times this season now. It could have been nine in the end. Not good enough at all.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, there’s still a lot of the season left. That performance is one of the worst since I’ve been back at the club.

“If we play like that again and roll over, just give up, then we will get beat five or six in a few more games.”

“No excuses, embarrassing.”

Billy Sharp’s match reaction. pic.twitter.com/R0rwF0YpmE

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 14, 2021

Match of the Day pundits have their reaction on Widler’s exit as well as the performance against Leicester…

Jermaine Jenas: Myself and Martin from the kick-off, we could have had a completely different run here, of really poor, ill-disciplined, lack of professionalism at times, I felt, with the regards to the way they performed today, Sheffield United. I think it’s been an emotional week for the club all round, losing their leader, Chris Wilder. We, essentially, decided it’s not the road we think we need to go down.

Martin Keown: They are in shellshock. Their messiah, their Sir Alex Ferguson really when you think about what he’s done at that football club – he’s their leader and today they just didn’t look like they were really up for it. They were almost in mourning today. It came too close for them, the new manager coming in, didn’t spend any time in preparation.

JJ: The fear is now, what next? This feels like a team to me that could be, potentially, completely dismantled. Chris Wilder was the one that dragged them up from League One, held them all together and they’ve lost that now.

MK: He gave them hope didn’t he? He’d be out there facing the press conferences afterwards, looking to the next game, everyone got in behind him and he gave the group some hope for the future about bouncing back up as you’ve seen other managers do to good effect; Shaun Dyche is a good example. One wonders why they didn’t stick with him – one day we’ll find out but it’s a big loss to the football club.

Fans reacted as a surprise new contender for Sheffield United manager’s job is revealed…

@BlademarkSUFC: Get that Chris Wilder in he’s outta work

@NigeSUFC: Dark dark days. @SheffieldUnited is going to stripped of everything by the parasitic Prince @Saudi49er before he’s done. I just pray what’s left after he’s done can be saved. #PRINCEOUT #sufc #twitterblades

@BladesOli: The owners & club are keeping quiet hoping this will all blow over in a few days and that the fans will forget. Not fucking likely pal @Saudi49er #twitterblades

@UpTheBlades24: We are fucked.

@davidoxley1982: Get him out @Saudi49er

@EJ_Sufc: Would honestly like to see prince in the press room forced to give answers #PRINCEOUT

@mreldoubleu: Best manager we’ve ever had gone. Tonked 5-0 in front of the world. Captain fighting back the tears on live tv. The CEO of the clubs laughing while we’re 5-0. What the fuck has that clown abdulla done to this club! SACK THE BOARD #PRINCEOUT #twitterblades #IWWT

@SteelMarshian: Jesus Christ 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

@markAllsopp19: #twitterBlades I only wish Chris could come to some agreement with the Prince and take a break and come back firing with all cylinders and get us out of this mess where in… from a heartbroken true Blade ⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️🙏🙏🙏🙏

@sufcjamess: Does Prince Abdullah actually attend any games? Oh wait, he’s too busy buying bottom of the french second division sides raking as much money as he can into his back pocket.
#sufc #sheffieldunited #twitterblades #PRINCEOUT

@Justin300212: hope you´re joking

@mcchickenberge: Our biggest defeat in years, coincides with our first game without Wilder, funny that #princeout #twitterblades

@emmautbx: “The club is in a good place” “You don’t see the bigger picture”. Up my fucking arse. What an absolute joke. Wilder wouldn’t have let this happen. The players are absolutely fucking broken. @musaadkma @Saudi49er what the actual fuck have you done to our club? Get OUT. #PRINCEOUT

@Blade1558: Aberdeen – equivalent to League 1, what a message this is sending out !

@Annies_song_: Bramall Lane ‘hierarchy’…..couldn’t run a bath ….sooner we’re rid the better

@RichWsufc: I would go 15 miles up the road and get the Barnsley manager! He’s done a fantastic job !

@lucypritty1: Not a bad shout, he would bring experience

@tomkemp2430: I wouldn’t be mad at this.

@Blades60Martyn: If that’s the ambition you’ve got then please Prince get out of our club. @Saudi49er

@Neil1889: Apart from two teams the rest of that league is League two standard. Although the last bloke to leave Aberdeen to manage a United in England did alright I suppose.

@AndrewK53044605: FFS we are doomed #PRINCEOUT

@PutneyBlade: Trouble is. These clowns have NO experience of the English game. NO experience of success. They’ll recruit some Turkish manager from the Belgian league. FFS!