Sheffield United's Chris Wilder brushes off resignation rumours to focus on 'huge game' at Bristol Rovers

The manager takes a depleted squad of around 16 fit first-teamers to League One Bristol Rovers for the third-round game. That is just one of the off-field problems he has had to deal with, amidst internet speculation all week he had resigned because of unhappiness at the future direction of the club.

But on Friday he was in front of the media, looking forward to a game given added importance by his side's winless start to the season.

“I don't do social media but it's been another tough week in what has been quite a tough season at our football club,” he commented. “There's always going to be rumours and speculation in football so I don't really deal in that, all I deal in is trying to prepare the team to get a result in a very difficult FA Cup game down at Bristol.

“I'm always speaking to the football club and the chief exec about the short-, medium- and long-term vision. Always. Any manager has that relationship with the chief exec and he has that relationship with the board. There's constant dialogue between me and Steve Bettis.

“I put my views forward as honestly as I always do on what I think is best for the football club and make my opinion, which I think is and should be valid with the connection I've got with the football club, (known) to improve us. Always.

“I'm an employee of the football club and I'm here to prepare the team, which I'm doing, to the best of my ability for the next game and give my views on where I think we should be going and what we should be doing, from every part.

“I've always been a hands-on manager. I am interested in everything. That's all I can do, is do that and respect who I'm working with and who I'm employed by.”

Last month Sheffield United owner/chairman Prince Abdullah gave a rare interview voicing unequivocal support for Wilder, who has taken the Blades from League One to the verge of European qualification last season before a downturn in fortunes.

“I appreciate that support when it was given and as always I'm onto that next game,” he said. "We've got to get a result on Saturday because it hasn't been good enough from my point of view.

“It's been tough and a struggle.”

The Blades have played 18 matches in all competitions without victory this season. In total their run stretches back to 21 in all competitions. So although they are in Premier League action at home to Newcastle United on Tuesday, Wilder is placing huge importance on victory at the weekend.

He is once more unlikely to have a full compliment of nine substitutes, however, with injury and Covid-19 hitting his squad.

“We’ve possibly got 16 outfield players fit and healthy to travel,” he revealed. “This is a huge game for us as a football club because of the situation we’re in.”

Adding to the distractions this week was an incident involving a car Wilder confirmed belonged to his striker Lys Mousset crashing into parked cars in the early hours of Monday.

“It's in the hands of Lys's solicitor and the club's solicitor but there's no way getting away from it,” said Wilder. “I've talked to Lys about his discipline, his commitment to the football club and his responsibilities as a professional footballer but it's left with the legals.

“If there's any action taken by the police it will be dealt with with Lys, his agent and the football club.

“It's disappointing when you see the pictures and when you hear the story of what happened but it will be dealt with internally and fairly.

“He's trained this week and he's fine.”

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