Which staff members has Middlesbrough FC boss Chris Wilder taken from old club Sheffield United

THREE KEY figures in the rise of Sheffield United during their outstanding renaissance under Chris Wilder have joined the former Blades chief at Middlesbrough.
New Middlesbrough FC manager Chris Wilder. Picture courtesy of MFC.New Middlesbrough FC manager Chris Wilder. Picture courtesy of MFC.
New Middlesbrough FC manager Chris Wilder. Picture courtesy of MFC.

Alongside Wilder's trusted assistant Alan Knill, former Blades first-team coach and head of sports science Matt Prestridge - an influential figure in the club's rise under Wilder - has linked up with the 54-year-old again.

Video analyst Mike Allen, also part of the backroom staff under Wilder at Bramall Lane - also joins forces with the Sheffielder again.

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Wilder, whose first game is charge is at home to Millwall on Saturday week, said: “I bring with me Mike Allen, a video analyst guy that I work very closely with that looks at the analysis part of it on both the opposition and our team. We work well with him.

"And Matt Prestridge from a sports scientist background. We brought him in from Loughborough University and he’s worked in academy football and then worked with us at Northampton and Sheffield United."

Pledging to work with the existing staff at the club - and revealing he has no plans for a big shake-up, Wilder added: “We’ve talked to the existing staff and we’re very inclusive with them.

“I’ve done that at previous clubs and ultimately they are the experts in their field. It’s about me getting the best out of the staff as much as it is the players, because the staff have got to support the players to give them the best opportunity to put in good performances."

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On the importance of right-hand Knill, Wilder continued: “The chemistry is good between us. I’ve known Alan a long time," he says.

“He is somebody I can trust implicitly, which is really important to me. But I will also build new relationships with staff. I’ve done it before.

“I’m not like other managers who might bring seven, eight or nine of their staff in."