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Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah revealed that Chris Wilder twice wanted to step down as manager and demanded £ 4 million severance to do so as his time at the club was drawing to a close.
Wilder finally left by mutual consent earlier this month with the club’s Premier League fund and seemingly destined for relegation, and the two sides apparently have irreconcilable differences.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News, Prince Abdullah also comments on his concerns about the recruiting process with Wilder, as well as the club’s search for a long-term replacement for him.
“In December, Stephen [Bettis, Sheffield United CEO] He told me that Chris had talked about resigning. I was really worried and I knew that a phone call or a Zoom call would not work, I had to sit with him, “said the Prince.
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In an exclusive extended interview with Sky Sports News, Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah discusses the reasons behind Chris Wilder’s departure and the Blades’ long-term plan for a successor.
“The problem was, because of Covid, all Saudis were banned from leaving the country. I spent two weeks trying to get permission to leave. As soon as I got that, I flew to London and drove to Sheffield and met Chris before the Southampton. Game [a 3-0 defeat].
“I told Chris, if we lose every game until the end of the season, we are not going to fire you. We need you to be our coach. I’m not talking about emotion, I just think you are the best coach to bring. Let’s go back to the Premier League.
“I told him that the draft could be better and that we could sit down after the season and talk about how we could improve it.”
The emails started between his representatives and our financial agent and we were surprised to find that he had asked for £ 4 million to resign.
“I told him I’m not happy that sometimes after defeats when you talk to the media [and say], ‘I can’t make a cake out of sand’ and when he says, ‘all I have are championship players.’
“It doesn’t reflect well on the club’s image. Those players finished ninth in the table last season, it hurts the club financially.”
“I agree that Chris takes all the credit when we win, but at least he takes some responsibility when we lose. Don’t say, under the pressure of some losses, ‘everything around me is rubbish.”
‘We were surprised that he asked for £ 4 million to resign’
Prince Abdullah added: “Chris explained in a one hour call why he wanted to resign. He said he felt the team needed a change, a new voice.
“We were very clear and said that we don’t want to fire him but that if he wants to resign, he can, but we will not pay him the same money as if he fired him.
“The emails started between his representatives and our financial agent and we were surprised to find that he had asked for £ 4 million to resign.
“We said, ‘No way are we going to pay you £ 4 million, you are resigning, we are not going to fire you, why would we have to pay almost a year’s salary?'”
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‘We recruited how Chris wanted: spending over £ 120 million’
Prince Abdullah also revealed his concerns about the club’s recruiting policy, which saw Wilder having a key voice in the new Blades signings.
Rhian Brewster cost the Blades £ 23.5 million but has yet to score in 23 appearances for the club, which has scored just 16 league goals all season.
David McGoldrick is their top scorer with six goals, with Billy Sharp, Oli McBurnie, Oliver Burke and Lys Mousset contributing another five.
“We also talked about the January transfer window just before the Southampton game. I felt good after the meeting and gave guarantees. I returned to Saudi Arabia, I felt good,” added Prince Abdullah.
“Then after we lost [Crystal] Palace in early January, Stephen called me and said Chris wanted to quit. I felt it was my mistake because we recruited how Chris wanted, we spent over £ 120 million.
“Liverpool and Tottenham have two forwards, we have six. The new manager may not want six forwards and we spend around £ 60 million on them.”
Paul Heckingbottom has been appointed Acting Head of Sheff Utd until the end of the season.
Former Barnsley and Leeds boss Paul Heckingbottom, who had been working with United’s U23 team, was named Wilder’s replacement on an interim basis until the end of the season, but Prince Abdullah insisted they are working to find a coach to long term.
“Our first priority is to get back to the Premier League. All options are open,” he said.
“We will make a decision soon, but we want to see how the team performs during the last eight or nine games of the season.
“We want a coach who is involved in the national team, but we have to learn from the mistakes we made before.”
Sky Sports News offered Chris Wilder an opportunity to respond, but he declined to comment.
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