Chris Wilder is confident he will get the time he needs from Sheffield United's board as he looks to undo the mistakes of last summer – the impatience will come from himself.

This ought to have been a season where the Blades put narrowly losing last season's Championship play-off final to Sunderland behind them and secured automatic promotion before their Premier League parachute payments ran out.

But in sacking Wilder, appointing Ruben Selles and carrying out an ill-judged squad overhaul, they torpedoed that and caused damage which will take time to repair.

Bringing Wilder back in September was enough to stave off relegation but not to mount a promotion push. Now he is talking about 10 to 15 players leaving and one of his most important pre-seasons.

Even after 1,000 games as a manager, Wilder, inset, has the hunger for the task in hand.

"You have to have patience from above and speaking to the owners and Steve (Bettis, the chief executive), I've got that backing," he said. "But you're putting pressure on yourself.

"I wasn't feeling good about myself when I was part of a run of not winning in six games (that only ended with Saturday's 2-1 win at home to Hull City). We all take that responsibility.

"I'm delighted with the career I've had but still I’m hungry for more.

DECISION-MAKERS: Sheffield United co-chairmen Steven Rosen (left) and Helmy Eltoukhy (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)

placeholder image — DECISION-MAKERS: Sheffield United co-chairmen Steven Rosen (left) and Helmy Eltoukhy (Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)

"The players need to have that desire for the feeling that we're all after. The Bristol City players had it when they got absolutely battered (by Sheffield United at Ashton Gate on Easter Monday) but they were still winning footballers.

“It’s about that winning feeling and the supporters haven't had enough of it this season.

"Performance over result is something I've always fought hard against. I've had all these sports psychologists and people saying we played well but it's about the five o'clock feeling.

"There might be people online saying: ‘This wasn't good, that wasn't good,' but generally when they're leaving the ground everybody, whether players, manager or supporters, has that five o'clock feeling that they're winning footballers, winning supporters and a winning football club.

SELF-CRITICAL: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder (Image: Simon Bellis / Sportimage)

"When you don't have that feeling, it hurts.”

The very scant consolation is that unlike this time last year, the Blades know what division they will be in next season, and have planned for it.

"There's a huge pre-season ahead of us, possibly the biggest pre-season I've had in my time here, or one of them, I would say," said Wilder.

"Pre-season is all laid out – every day, every session. All the games are lined up – a pre-season tour and another game to be announced.

"We have post-season plans for the players, meetings with players individually and as a group for the boys that will be here next year on what is expected of them in the summer, what's expected of them physically and most importantly, mentally as well. That has been key.

"There's going to be an edge to us next season without a shadow of a doubt. And there's going to be a mentality change, which there needs to be."