Chris Wilder to Leave Sheffield United Soccer

[Crabtree]

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is set to leave his role on Friday after almost five years in charge.

The Blades are bottom of the Premier League and effectively 13 points from safety with 10 games of the season left.

Ex-Blades defender Wilder joined the Yorkshire club in May 2016 and took them from League One to the Premier League in that time.

They finished ninth last season in their first year back in the league.

This season has proved a real struggle and they have endured the worst start to a season in Premier League history, although they have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Their first league win did not come until 12 January, in their 18th game, when they beat Newcastle.

Sheffield United were praised for their style in their first season back in the Premier League, securing eye-catching wins against Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham on their way to a top-10 finish.

However, they have been unable to build on that this term, picking up just 14 points from four wins and two draws so far, losing their other 22 league games.

• They had 43 points at the same stage last season
• Just six clubs in Premier League history have recorded fewer points at this stage
• By failing to beat Crystal Palace in their 17th match this season, they set the record for the longest winless start to a Premier League campaign
• Their 20 Premier League games without a clean sheet is the longest current run in the division
• Their win at Old Trafford in January was their only away league victory of the season so far
• Only once before have Sheffield United picked up fewer points after 28 league games (10 points in 1976, when it was two points for a win)

Weird timing. They're basically dead and buried anyway. They may as well ride out the season with him in charge, and see what he can do next season, no?

Loyalty, as we all know, is a very short-lived thing in the football world.

Did wonders for the club, and is a local lad.