Image: Mark Hawksworth (Liscence)
Sheffield United have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom following a heavy loss at Turf Moor at the weekend, with Chris Wilder named as his replacement.
Burnley scored 15 seconds into the game on Saturday following a series of defensive errors, and later in the half United’s Oli McBurnie got sent off after committing two careless fouls.
The performance has been described as ‘disgraceful’ by pundits, in a game where the hosts sat below United prior to the game, making it a must-win game for the blades in their hopes to escape the relegation zone.
Heckingbottom vented his frustrations to the press after the game while insisting that he could ‘leave the stadium with his head held high’, explaining how the club had been ‘making financial decisions rather than football decisions’.
His sacking will not come as a shock to United fans as the season has seen the blades record one win, conceding a league-high 39 goals.
Chris Wilder has been named as his replacement, who was responsible for one of the club’s most successful seasons during the 2019-20 season, finishing 9th in the Premier League.
Wilder left the club in 2020 after falling out with the club’s hierarchy but has since resolved any issues and is keen to return to Bramall Lane.
Wilder said: “Just like in 2016, when this club comes calling, it is not something you pass up. This is Sheffield United, it is my team and I am thrilled to be back.”
Speaking on his ambitions, he said: “It’s about the crowd, it’s about the players setting the crowd alight & giving them something to shout about.”
