Paul Heckingbottom is expected to be sacked by Sheffield United today and become the first Premier League managerial dismissal of the season.
Heckingbottom’s two-year reign as manager is close to ending as the club take action following the 5-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday.
Chris Wilder, the former United manager, is emerging as a strong contender to replace Heckingbottom and make his return to Bramall Lane.
United are bottom of the league after 11 defeats from 14 matches and United are set to hold talks with the 46-year-old this morning.
Runners-up in the Championship last season, the club has come under scrutiny for its transfer strategy over the summer which resulted in the sales of key players Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge.
Heckingbottom admitted his frustration at being unable to keep his squad together following the heavy defeat at Turf Moor. Supporters also chanted “Hecky out” towards the end of the thrashing.
“I wanted to keep the group together but we couldn’t,” he told the BBC.
“We couldn’t because of the last few years and the financial implications. If we’d tied them down [on longer contracts] then we probably wouldn’t have sold those players.
“There wasn’t a desire from the ownership to sell, but a necessity from a business point of view. We’ve been making financial decisions rather than football decisions. Of course that affects me. I didn’t want it to happen.”
Wilder guided United to promotion out of League One and the Championship and is expected to replace Heckingbottom.
A former player for the club, Wilder left the club by mutual consent in March 2021 after nearly five years in charge.
He was last in work with Watford, spending just two months at Vicarage Road before leaving at the end of last season.
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***The Telegraph’s John Percy reports:***
Paul Heckingbottom is expected to be sacked by Sheffield United today and become the first Premier League managerial dismissal of the season.
Heckingbottom’s two-year reign as manager is close to ending as the club take action following the 5-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday.
Chris Wilder, the former United manager, is emerging as a strong contender to replace Heckingbottom and make his return to Bramall Lane.
United are bottom of the league after 11 defeats from 14 matches and United are set to hold talks with the 46-year-old this morning.
Runners-up in the Championship last season, the club has come under scrutiny for its transfer strategy over the summer which resulted in the sales of key players Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge.
Heckingbottom admitted his frustration at being unable to keep his squad together following the heavy defeat at Turf Moor. Supporters also chanted “Hecky out” towards the end of the thrashing.
“I wanted to keep the group together but we couldn’t,” he told the BBC.
“We couldn’t because of the last few years and the financial implications. If we’d tied them down [on longer contracts] then we probably wouldn’t have sold those players.
“There wasn’t a desire from the ownership to sell, but a necessity from a business point of view. We’ve been making financial decisions rather than football decisions. Of course that affects me. I didn’t want it to happen.”
Wilder guided United to promotion out of League One and the Championship and is expected to replace Heckingbottom.
A former player for the club, Wilder left the club by mutual consent in March 2021 after nearly five years in charge.
He was last in work with Watford, spending just two months at Vicarage Road before leaving at the end of last season.
**Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/12/04/sheffield-united-to-sack-paul-heckingbottom-premier-league/**