Sheffield United

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

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

I did the thing you're not supposed to do on Sunday. I went on an internet chat forum to gauge fan opinion.

Forums, as with social media, are often a place to vent and let off steam. You can't judge the thoughts of an entire fan base off a few spicy comments online. However, it is at least worth having a glance to see what's being said sometimes – even if it makes for unpleasant viewing for yours truly and my esteemed colleagues from the world of local journalism.

The reaction to the play-off defeat against Sunderland was not kind to manager Chris Wilder. That's the mild, family friendly description.

It isn't right. It isn't fair. It needs to be challenged. So here goes…

Sheffield United won 92 points this season, a club record. In the last 10 years, that would've been enough to go up automatically eight times.

The Blades equalled a run of away wins this season dating back to the late 1800s.

United started the summer staring at a major rebuild of the squad. They smartly used the sale of players like Will Osula to bring in key additions. Michael Cooper and Harrison Burrows weren't mega-money splashes. They were sensational, astute additions.

Wilder tapped into the club's academy, giving talented young players a chance to become household names.

Players who were figures of a fun the season before, like Vini Souza, became fan favourites under Wilder's leadership.

They had to handle crushing injuries to Harry Souttar and Ollie Arblaster, the latter being replaced by another talented academy prospect in Sydie Peck.

The club also had a lengthy ownership saga going on in the background, creating uncertainty. Then there was the crushing tragedy of George Baldock's death which impacted everyone associated with Sheffield United.

Through all of this, and it would consume many other managers and clubs, United were 15 minutes from the Premier League.

This wasn't a failure. This wasn't an effort worthy of online rants, undermining the manager, claiming he doesn't know what he was doing. What total and utter abject nonsense.

This was one of Wilder's best efforts in a long, successful career. Sunderland, to their credit, and roared on by a fantastic crowd at Wembley, snatched promotion away with two excellent goals. That's football.

Wilder is United's best ever boss. This isn't to undermine the brilliant work of Dave Bassett but the game's changed. Football has never been more challenging or dominated by money. A manager's job is harder than it was 30 years ago. Considerably so, in my opinion.

Even in defeat, Wilder should be praised. There's nobody better to get things going again next season.

Sheffield United missed out on an immediate return to the Premier League as they were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland in Saturday's Championship play-off final.

Could the Blades have done more?

Where did it go wrong for Chris Wilder and his players?

Here are just some of the thoughts of Sheffield United supporters:

Miguel - Unfortunately failed to win any significant match against strong opposition this year and like so many games this year should have scored more whilst on top. Not ready for the Premier league yet.

Mary - Proud of them all. Hold your heads high and we go again next season and go up automatically.

Ian - Did well in the first half but our front line is only really Tyrese Campbell. Hamer pulling up, Anel getting taken out by Cannon didn't help. Sunderland keeper pulls off a top class Banks save and they took their chances really well. Fair enough really - renewed ST regardless.

Dave - Hate to say it but could be a blessing in disguise!

Jake - The team showed signs of mental fragility when they let a five-point lead slip with only a few matches left to play. I think that had some bearing on the fixture, and Burrows' strike being ruled out by VAR meant heads started to drop. Ultimately, promotion feels like a poisoned chalice now, with the growing gulf between Premier League and Championship teams. Sunderland fans may be in for a long season.

Matt - Summed up the whole season, just did enough to lead, then did not push on for a second, especially after the VAR no goal. We just thought we could hold on again like so many of the previous 20 odd wins this season. A strange season all round! If, when, we lose the creativity (Hamer) next season will be even more tougher than this.

Will - My worry now is that we're going to lose some key players and it would be great if the team was kept together because we know we can challenge for promotion next season. If we lose Hamer and Cooper I think that will be a real shame.

Image source, Getty Images

It was heartbreak for Sheffield United on Saturday after teenager Tommy Watson's 95th-minute winning goal at Wembley put Sunderland into the Premier League.

It means the Blades yet again failed to get through the play-offs despite a dominant first half - but was it a game they should have won?

Did Chris Wilder and his squad give it all they could or do you think there was more they could have done to secure their rise to the top flight?

Let us know here what you thought of Sheffield United's performance on Saturday.

Sheffield United and Sunderland meet at Wembley on Saturday (15:01 BST) as they look to secure promotion in the play-off final.

The Blades sailed past Bristol City to book their place, while it took a last gasp winner from Dan Ballard to see the Black Cats avoid a penalty clash with Coventry City.

Neither side have won a Championship play-off before but Sunderland did find their first play-off promotion in League One in 2022, while Sheffield United are still in search of their own slice of EFL play-off history.

• This is Sunderland's third second tier play-off final – they lost 1-0 to Swindon in 1989-90 (though still ended up being promoted due to Swindon's demotion) and lost on penalties to Charlton in 1997-98 after a 4-4 draw.

• This will be Sheffield United's fifth Football League play-off final and first since losing 8-7 on penalties to Huddersfield Town in League One in May 2012. Overall, the Blades have failed to earn promotion in any of their four previous finals, no side has appeared in more without ever earning promotion (4 also for Leeds United and Reading).

• Sheffield United finished 14 points ahead of Sunderland in the regular Championship season – it's the biggest points difference between two Football League play-off finalists in the current format (since 1988-89).

• The only previous meeting between Sunderland and Sheffield United in the play-offs came in the 1997-98 semi-final, with the Black Cats winning 3-2 on aggregate (1-2 away, 2-0 home) before losing the final on penalties to Charlton.

• Sheffield United have won five of their last seven meetings with Sunderland in all competitions (L2), though did lose the most recent fixture 2-1 in January.

• Having failed to win any of their seven competitive matches at Wembley Stadium between 1985 and 2019, Sunderland have won their last two at the ground – 1-0 against Tranmere in the 2021 Football League Trophy final and 2-0 against Wycombe in the 2021-22 League One play-off final.

• Sheffield United haven't won any of their last seven matches at Wembley Stadium (D1 L6), with their last win coming 100 years ago against Cardiff City in the 1925 FA Cup final.

• Sheffield United won both of their semi-final legs 3-0 against Bristol City, the only previous sides to score 3+ goals in three games of a Football League play-off campaign are Walsall in 1987-88 and Barnsley in 2015-16.

• Eliezer Mayenda has been involved in nine goals in his 13 starts for Sunderland in all competitions so far in 2025 (7 goals, 2 assists), including a goal and an assist in the Black Cats' 2-1 win over Sheffield United on New Year's Day.

• Callum O'Hare scored in both legs of Sheffield United's 6-0 aggregate victory over Bristol City in the semi-final. The last player to score in both semi-final legs and the final in a Championship play-off campaign was Bobby Zamora for West Ham in 2004-05.

Could the Blades finally earn Premier-League promotion from the play-offs?

The Blades Heaven team will be joined by former Sheffield United players Carl Asaba and Rob Page as they look ahead to this weekend's Championship play-off final against Sunderland at Wembley on BBC Radio Sheffield's Football Heaven at 17:40 BST on Thursday.

Not in the area? No bother. You can watch and listen online on the BBC Sport website and app, on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.

"The people at Sheffield United would have heard that stat so many times... that will change at some point."

Sheffield United have failed to win an EFL play-off campaign across all of their previous eight attempts but are looking to break that duck on Saturday (13:01 BST) when they face Sunderland at Wembley.

The 72+ podcast team were joined this week by new Reading CEO Joe Jacobson to take a look at whether Sheffield United's play-off fortunes may see a turning point.

"I look at the firepower they've got and in big games like this, it's one or two moments that are going to decide things," Jacobson said.

"Sheffield United, along with Leeds and Burnley, were so far ahead [in the table] - that means something.

"There's a reason they were that far ahead, it's because they are a better squad, a better team."

Listen to the full episode and more on the Football Daily podcast.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier today, we asked you how many third-place finishers in the Championship managed to clinch promotion in the play-off final since 1990.

The answer - 12!

Bolton Wanderers in 1995 and 2001, Ipswich Town in 2000, Watford in 2006, Derby County in 2007, Hull City in 2008, Swansea City in 2011, West Ham United in 2012, Norwich City in 2015, Fulham in 2018, Brentford in 2021 and Luton Town in 2023.

Can Sheffield United join the list?