Sheffield United

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, Rex Features

It's Sheffield United, Jim, but not as we know it.

The red and white half of the Steel City is set for a fascinating 43 days between now and kick-off in the new Championship season.

When the Blades face Bristol City at Bramall Lane on 9 August, a new chapter – heralded by the club's American owners – will begin in earnest.

For now the dust is beginning to settle on a seismic change for which tremors will undoubtedly be felt for weeks, months and years to come.

It's been a busy and dramatic six months since COH Sports acquired Sheffield United. Chris Wilder was quickly given a new three-and-a-half-year contract. United claimed a club record 92 points but missed out on automatic promotion in the final few games. They then lost the Championship play-off final having led with 15 minutes to go before Wilder eventually departed by mutual consent, being replaced by Spaniard Ruben Selles.

That decision has split the Blades fanbase, with social media exposing extreme opinions on both sides of the argument for and against change.

Boyhood fan and former player Wilder will always be a legendary figure at Bramall Lane. He achieved this status in his first spell when he took the club from League One obscurity to ninth in the Premier League, but he deserves more credit than he has received for his second spell, including last summer's rebuild in the wake of relegation from the top-flight, with a significant turnaround of players, and the protracted takeover which continued until late December.

At Wembley in May he stood on the brink of achieving something no other manager in the club's history had achieved: three promotions. It will always sting that he came so close for Wilder, his players and the club's supporters.

But a significant number of Blades fans took issue with performances last season and the club's style of play, while questioning the success of recruitment in January and the near £450,000 in fines paid over player and staff conduct.

Whatever motivated the decision to act, the Blades board has acted, and in doing so, they have thrown their full weight behind former Hull City and Reading boss Selles.

Their claim that he "can employ innovative recruitment and analytic strategies" is key - relating to the owners' eagerness to use data and artificial intelligence to "recruit the best and brightest talent", which is central to the intrigue about how the Blades squad will take shape under Selles, who says he will have the final say on transfers.

How many existing players will be able to deliver the intensity that the Spaniard demands? Will some Wilder regulars find themselves sidelined? Will data-driven arrivals be in the majority or minority, as opposed to "seen it, done it" Championship players?

United's new board is seeking "sustainable success" and says "the road ahead may require patience", but having come so close to a Premier League return last season, patience may be in short supply if the Blades aren't in the mix for automatic promotion from an early stage.

It's a brave new enterprise at Bramall Lane, with Selles tasked to boldly go and establish the Blades as a regular top-flight club.

Image source, Getty Images

First-team coach Jack Lester is to leave Sheffield United after a mutual agreement was agreed between him and the club.

Ex-Blades striker Lester returned to Bramall Lane in 2019 to head up the club's academy.

He was then appointed to first-team coach two years later under Paul Heckingbottom and maintained that role with Chris Wilder, who was dismissed last week.

But as Lester leaves, it has been confirmed that Matt Duke and Micky Collins, other members of Wilder's backroom team will work with new head coach Ruben Selles.

The EFL fixture list is out and we know you are bursting to know what you've got to look forward to - or dread - from your team this upcoming season.

Here are some key dates to put in your diary:

• 9 August 2025 - v Bristol City (H)

• 16 August 2025 - v Swansea City (A)

• 22 November 2025 - v Sheffield Wednesday (A)

• 26 December 2025 - v Wrexham (A)

• 1 January 2026 - v Leicester City (H)

• 21 February 2026 - v Sheffield Wednesday (H)

• 11 April 2026 - v Hull City (H)

• 2 May 2026 - v Derby County (A)

See Sheffield United's full fixture list here.

Image source, Rex Features

New Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles has given a flavour of how he wants his Blades side to play.

In his first interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, the new man in the Bramall Lane dugout pledged to play "intense and front-footed" football and stick to his attacking principles.

He said: "We are very proactive, we are not waiting for things to happen, we want to be creating situations, we want to be aggressive, we want to be front-footed and vertical in our attack. Those are the principles – we want to prepare a team that is very intense.

"We want to find the opposition box as quick as we can, that will not mean we want to kick it long, we want to find a spare player or have this breaking lines mentality.

"When we lose the ball we need to recover it as quick as possible to continue attacking."

Selles, who says he is a passionate boss, aims to foster a culture of trust with his players and maintain high standards.

He added: "I trust the players a lot but I am very firm in my principles and in the way I want them to do things on the pitch.

"We create the idea and they need to go and play the idea."

Click here for Ruben Selles full interview with BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton via BBC Sounds.

Your club will soon discover their schedule for the upcoming EFL season. As soon as Thursday, in fact.

Want to know who your side will face on opening day? The EFL fixtures will be announced at 12:00 BST - but that's not all.

The day will be rounded off by the first round of Carabao Cup being drawn at 16:30 BST.

So check back on 26 June to see who your team faces first, last and everything in between.

Hull City and Columbia midfielder Steven Alzate, 26, could be set for an exit from the Tigers this summer amid interest from La Liga side Valencia and Sheffield United. (Hull Live, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Sheffield United and Southampton face stiff competition from Leeds, Wolves and four German Bundesliga clubs to sign French striker Willem Geubbels, 23, from Swiss Super League side St Gallen after he netted 14 goals in 31 games last season. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Read Friday's full gossip column for more EFL transfer rumours

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Ruben Selles has been installed as Sheffield United head coach in place of Chris Wilder.

Here's what you've had to say about Selles' appointment:

Neil: Probably a big mistake. Selles is utterly unproven. He may the the next Jose Mourinho, but also might be the next David Weir. He may not make it to Christmas. Or he may lead us into the Champions League. For data-driven owners, this is seems one hell of a visit to the roulette table.

Freddie: Sheffield United have consistently appointed failed managers who have then failed at Bramall Lane too, since the day Dave Bassett left the club - and nothing will change under the new manager and owners.

Andy: Wilder was able to rebuild the team and keep them competitive. If Wilder was being replaced by a manager with a good pedigree then it would make sense. However, Selles doesn't fit into that category in any way. I hope I'm wrong but this could be a big mistake.

Miguel: That's a big gamble. Chris has been great and deserved another crack at the Premier League. Win percentage above 40% everywhere he's been. Phenomenal. Big-game results let him down. Selles' win percentage - never above 40% anywhere he's been. We've heard they are going for data-driven recruitment. It would seem not. I don't understand this roll of the dice.

John: It's a big gamble, but football is all about moving forward. I hope the analytical approach favoured by the owners will not lose sight of traditional recruitment.

Steve: Underwhelmed by the appointment of Selles - his CV suggests possibility but also tactical rigidity and lack of attacking strategies - if we're not off to a flying start, things could turn ugly.

David: A club like United need to fully embrace the modern methods being utilised successfully by other medium-sized clubs. Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are the poster boys for this approach but Liverpool and Spurs have had success using analytics and there will have been others. It stings to let such a talismanic manager leave, to be replaced by a (so far) less successful coach, but if this truly is the dawn of a new era then it will be worth it. We'll see.

David: Given the new recruitment system uses AI and statistical analysis the switch from Wilder to Selles, based on past performance and achievement, is a massive step in the wrong direction. Trust in the new owners and the board is seriously in doubt for me.

Matthew: It is a shocking decision on a basic football level. Replacing one of the most successful managers the club has ever had - a dodgy VAR call and a last-minute wonder goal from nowhere away from another promotion by the way! - with a guy who's biggest achievement so far is sixth in League One or just nine wins with Hull and barely staying up. However, more worrying is the corporate tone of the statements from the club which imply they want a yes man to dictate ideas to and that they do not respect or appreciate the unique bond that Wilder has with this club and the fans. Unfortunately the Blades will end up in the mid table of the Championship again for the next few years now as a result. Makes me not want to bother watching anymore.

Graham: Totally the wrong move, Wilder is a Blade through and through. He shouldn't have been sacked but then to bring in an also-ran in his place is diabolical. We should have at least brought in someone who has a proven track record of getting teams promoted.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United's decision to part company with boss Chris Wilder has caused quite the stir.

His departure puts an end to a second spell as Blades manager for Wilder, a boyhood Sheffield United fan, who has firmly put his name among the greats at Bramall Lane with two promotions and a run to last season's play-off final.

Here's what you had to say about his dismissal:

Hazim: Wilder brought us to some dizzying heights but we also, at times, showed a lack of creativity. He did the best with what he could and will always be remembered as one of the greats. Some say build a statue, and I wouldn't be against that. Maybe it's best he leaves now with his head held high. I'm only young so I may be foolishly hopeful, but Selles could find his feet with us if we back him.

Rick: Chris Wilder brought passion back to the club and to get 92 points this season after a horrible relegation was incredible. However, I'm inclined to think some poor January signings and the three straight losses taking us out of the top two did for him. On top of that, the poor disciplinary record was probably not an image the new owners want for their club. It's a tough one and I hope it's the right one.

Billy Ray: Best news ever. Wilder should not have been allowed to have a second spell as manager after leaving United before, when the Blades were relegated. A fresh new face was what was needed at the Lane. New owners and now a fresh manager is what is needed.

Tom: I don't know what to think. Wilder will forever be in our hearts for what he's done for the club. But towards the end of the season it was a big fall off from being top of the league to not being promoted. Adding to the fact the new owners are really pushing AI for recruiting players, I think they want a manager who is adaptable to that. My heart says it's a bad decision, my head is saying it's correct.

Andy: As a Blades fan, it is a disappointing decision to part ways with Chris Wilder. Was every decision he made perfect? No. But no manager gets it right all the time. What was important to me was his connection and understanding to the club and the fanbase. There are so few connections like this in football now and I do believe it is something that helped us. Severing that means you are not just getting a new manager - all those connections need rebuilding too.

Chas: Gutted. The best manager the Blades have ever had. Chris Wilder was the beating heart and soul of Sheffield United. His and the players' achievements last season were truly impressive considering the pre-season issues, injuries and then the tragic loss of George Baldock.

Simon: Massive error. He wins football matches, especially at Championship level, and made the connection between the club and the fans stronger and that's a big loss now he has gone. Feels like the new owners don't understand football, the fans, our identity and the city.

James: Huge mistake. Proven Championship quality replaced with proven Championship relegation fodder. With decisions like this, it is likely to be the end of the good times brought back when Wilder took over in 2015. No faith in the new owners after this.

Huddersfield Town have submitted an offer to Leyton Orient to sign 24-year-old midfielder Ethan Galbraith, who has also drawn interest from Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United and Swansea City. (Yorkshire Post), external

Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Thursday's full gossip column

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Sheffield United have swapped out veteran boss Chris Wilder for former Hull City head coach Ruben Selles.

The Spaniard departed the Tigers in May despite keeping the relegation-threatened side in the Championship.

However, while Wilder has a breadth of experience, including two stints with the Blades, Selles' first managerial job came in 2023 at Southampton.

With such a gamble taken, BBC Radio Sheffield's Andy Giddings thinks a good start for Selles is crucial to winning over the fans.

"Ruben Selles has a very hard act to follow. Chris Wilder is synonymous with Sheffield United," Giddings said.

"There were some Blades fans who were advocating a change but if social media is any barometer, I'd suggest they are in the minority view.

"If things don't start well, the new manager - and as the result of that, the board - will get some heat."

Listen to the full discussion and more on BBC Sounds.

So, the powers that be at Sheffield United no longer think Chris Wilder is the man to guide them back to the Premier League and have replaced him with Ruben Selles.

Wilder, 57, has left the Blades after failing to secure automatic promotion and then missing out in the Championship play-off final after a 95th-minute winner from Sunderland.

Do you agree with the call?

Or do you think shunning Wilder is an error that could prove costly?

Let us know what you think here.

Sheffield United are considering a double swoop for young Tottenham Hotspur pair Ashley Phillips, 19, and Alfie Devine, 20. Centre-back Phillips spent last season on loan at Stoke City, while attacking midfielder Devine was with Belgian side KVC Westerlo for the 2024-25 campaign. (The Star), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's full gossip column

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Image source, Getty Images

The PFA awards have announced a shortlist of six for their Championship Players' Player of the Year award, with promoted Burnley and Leeds United each receiving two nominations.

Clarets captain Josh Brownhill and goalkeeper James Trafford are both up for the prize, while Leeds forward Dan James and midfielder Ao Tanaka are also on the list.

The remaining two nominations have gone to Sheffield United midfielder Gustavo Hamer and Norwich City forward Borja Sainz.

The winner will be announced on 19 August at Manchester's Opera House.

Andy Giddings
BBC Radio Sheffield journalist

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

Chris Wilder always said he wanted to leave Sheffield United with his head held high, and there's no doubt he's doing that - again. An announcement on his departure for the second time is expected soon.

The 57-year-old has twice ignited a revolution at the club he grew up supporting, and would play for, before first joining as manager in 2016 with the Blades at its lowest point in 33 years.

The first time was a fairytale for Blades fans, a 100-point promotion from League One preceded two years in the Championship, and a brief flirtation as a Premier League side with the idea of being in Europe before Covid struck.

Wilder's second stint was initially a salvage job after a disastrous summer of recruitment hindered predecessor Paul Heckingbottom. Ultimately it didn't work, but the seeds of change were sown.

Wilder - known as being a skilled planner - set about changing the plan, and despite a slow, nervy start to the transfer window due to the protracted takeover of the club, put together the makings of a good squad which amassed 90 points (92 without the deduction) that remarkably wasn't enough for automatic promotion, and ended with a defeat in the Championship play-off final.

Following that final against Sunderland three weeks ago, it's believed a split board decided to discuss a 'change in direction' last week which has ultimately led to the pending departure of one of United's most successful managers.

The delay in holding these talks over his future and the time it's taken to resolve the situation shows a lack of respect to Wilder, in my opinion, a lack of clarity at the top of the club, and a naivety in offering him a new three-year deal in January, when it was known significant changes to the club's methods of recruitment were coming.

With five promotions on his managerial CV, Wilder's stock remains high.

Football, eh?

Image source, PA Media

Sheffield United have made former Bournemouth and Wolves boss Gary O'Neil, 42, their number one target to replace Chris Wilder as manager. (The Sun), external

Hull City want to sign ex-Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie, 29, from Las Palmas after the Spanish side's relegation from La Liga but may face competition from his former club if Chris Wilder remains as Blades manager. (Hull Daily Mail), external

Want more transfer news and rumours from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Andy Giddings, BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

A meeting is scheduled to take place in which the owners of the football club will discuss whether they want Chris Wilder to continue as the team's manager.

All the noises from the other side suggest Wilder is raring to go and crack on to try and get Sheffield United promoted next season.

It does seem strange such a short time after the play-off final, and given Wilder's successes - he was a kick of a ball away from becoming, via some metrics, Sheffield United's most successful manager - that this is even a discussion.

I can understand where some fans have reservations about AI [being used for recruitment processes]. You can cite certain teams but it's never going to be the same as at Brighton and Brentford of how they use their recruitment models.

Nobody outside the inner workings of those clubs is ever going to know what goes on.

There is no silver bullet to recruitment and in any recruitment process, I'm sure a lot of fans will agree that there has to come a point where you use the technology. Great, that's fine.

But there has to be the human element of it because there isn't a statistic in the world that can tell you about heart, fight and character. Can you do it when the chips are down?

Rob Staton, BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Here's what I don't understand - why offer Chris Wilder a new contract in January? It seems a little bit strange that you would give Wilder a new contract and then a few months later move on.

We haven't had a chance to speak to the new owners. You would imagine that perhaps if they were to make a move like this, they would answer some questions as to why, and their vision, and what exactly they are thinking here.

But you do have to wonder, sometimes with owners they have some ideals, ways they want to work around things. Have Sheffield United not been this way before?

Because in the past they went to Slavisa Jokanovic, they wanted to do things differently. They then had to rip that up a few months later and go back to the system that had worked in the past.

Yes, Sheffield United didn't win promotion last season but they did have, by and large, a successful season after a difficult rebuild last summer. Could history repeat itself here?

Image source, Rex Features

A meeting has reportedly been scheduled by Sheffield United to determine the future of manager Chris Wilder.

The Blades amassed 90 points in the Championship in the 2024-25 season but missed out on automatic promotion to the Premier League to Leeds and Burnley, who both hit the 100-point mark.

Sheffield United reached the play-off final at Wembley but gave up a first-half lead to lose 2-1 to Sunderland.

Wilder is 18 months into his second stint with the club since replacing Paul Heckingbottom as boss in December 2023, having managed United for five years between 2016 and 2021.

With speculation that Wilder might be sacked, BBC Radio Sheffield sports reporters Rob Staton and Andy Giddings have been discussing the latest from Bramall Lane.

Listen to their thoughts on the situation on BBC Sounds here.

Ben Ashton
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Watford are getting relegated, Plymouth are staying up, Millwall are in the play-offs and Portsmouth are also battling for a top-six spot.

Does something sound a bit off? Well, that's what would have happened if the Championship season started on 1 January.

Here's a look at the 2025 calendar year table, showing who the form sides were in the second half of the season and who went into freefall.

Perhaps the most notable difference between the actual final top six and the 2025 version is that Millwall would be in the play-offs and Premier League-bound Sunderland would not.

Burnley and Leeds still comfortably occupy the automatic promotion spots, albeit the Clarets would be unbeaten at the top of the pile with the Whites in second.

Coventry improved significantly after Frank Lampard replaced Mark Robins and are third over the course of the year.

The Sky Blues would instead be pitted against Bristol City in the play-off semi-final as opposed to Sunderland. Who knows what difference that would have made to their promotion bid...

Image source, Rex Features

Portsmouth - who spent much of the season battling relegation and only secured their Championship safety with two games to spare - are seventh and just one point outside a play-off spot.

Pompey sit above Sunderland, who lost their final five games of the season and are down in eighth.

The data perhaps shows just how long Regis Le Bris' side effectively had a play-off spot sewn up before their victory at Wembley against Sheffield United to claim promotion.

Relegation battlers Oxford find themselves seven places higher than where they actually finished in the 2024-25 campaign (17th), reflecting the good work done by Gary Rowett after he took over as boss from Des Buckingham.

Image source, Rex Features

Plymouth would have survived comfortably had the season begun in January 2025, showing a significant uptick after Miron Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the helm.

Middlesbrough tailed off significantly in the second half of the season, underpinning why they missed out on the play-offs. It was a drop off that ultimately cost Michael Carrick his job as head coach.

Norwich City conceded more goals (32) than any other side in 2025, which counteracted the hard work they'd done at the other end, having been the fourth top scorers (31) since the turn of the year.

Image source, Rex Features

Watford had a disappointing 2025, winning just five of their 23 games and losing 13 to finish bottom of the calendar year table.

The Hornets had the joint-worst goal difference along with Cardiff (-10) and head coach Tom Cleverley was sacked following the end of the season.

Preston and Cardiff won the fewest games of any side in 2025 (4), which cost the Bluebirds their Championship status and almost led to the Lilywhites dropping into League One as they avoided relegation by one point.

Paul Heckingbottom's side would be down if only games this year were counted.

Luton and Derby scored the fewest goals in 2025 (19) and attacking output was an issue that plagued both sides throughout the entire campaign.

It had major consequences for the Hatters with back-to-back relegations, while the Rams survived by a point - and only on goal difference in the yearly table.

Data collated from Transfermarkt