Chris Wilder replaces Nigel Adkins at Sheffield United

SHEFFIELD UNITED have confirmed Chris Wilder as the new manager at Bramall Lane on a three-year deal.
Northampton boss Chris Wilder.Northampton boss Chris Wilder.
Northampton boss Chris Wilder.

The Northampton Town chief and lifelong Blades supporter was granted permission by the Cobblers to speak with the South Yorkshire club this morning - with talks swiftly concluded.

The development arrived hours after the Blades sacked Nigel Adkins after just under a year in charge at S2, with the 51-year-old paying the price for a season of failure at the club.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Former Rotherham boss Alan Knill will be Wilder’s No 2, with the pair successfully working together at Northampton and leading them to the League Two title

Northampton boss Chris Wilder.Northampton boss Chris Wilder.
Northampton boss Chris Wilder.

Adkins paid the price for failing to earn promotion from League One for the Blades after just nine months in charge,

Wilder will be the Blades’ ninth permanent manager since Neil Warnock’s exit in 2007.

Wilder - who made 12 appearances for the Blades in 1998-99 - had also been linked with the Nottingham Forest job after talks with Charlton Athletic broke down on him taking over at the Valley.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am proud and honoured to have been the manager of Sheffield United but saddened to leave after just one season,” admitted Adkins on Thursday morning.

Nigel Adkins has been sacked as Sheffield United bossNigel Adkins has been sacked as Sheffield United boss
Nigel Adkins has been sacked as Sheffield United boss

“I am naturally very disappointed not to be able to continue the good work going on behind the scenes, which I am confident will be of benefit to the Club going forward.

“I wish the Club and the supporters the best of luck for the future.”

The club acknowledged in its statement that failure to gain promotion back to the Championship was the overriding reason for Adkins’s departure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Nigel is a gentleman and, as proved by his record, a very good manager,” read the statement.

Northampton boss Chris Wilder.Northampton boss Chris Wilder.
Northampton boss Chris Wilder.

“But the overriding aim is promotion from League One and the club feels that this is the correct time to make a change.

“We will now begin the process of bringing in a new manager. We hope to make an appointment very shortly, with promotion from this division once again the priority. This is a decision made jointly between the co-owners and is the result of discussions between board members and colleagues.”

Adkins signed a three year contract with United after being unveiled as Nigel Clough’s successor at a media conference in London. He won 22 of his 54 matches as United manager with 14 of those fixtures ending in a draw.