West Brom approach Chris Wilder, set to hold talks with ex-Sheffield United boss
West Brom are set to hold talks with Chris Wilder as they aim to hire a new manager to replace Sam Allardyce, according to Telegraph journalist John Percy.
Writing on The Telegraph website, Percy reports that Albion have already approached Wilder, who’s high on their list of candidates to succeed Big Sam after he announced he’ll be leaving at the end of the season after Wednesday night’s defeat to West Ham.
Wilder, 53, left Sheffield United in March after almost five years in charge at Bramall Lane in which he won promotion from League One and the Championship.
The sensible choice?
When you look at Wilder’s CV and what West Brom want in their next manager then it’s hard to see a safer bet than the former Blades boss.
While some fans will point to his questionable decisions in the transfer market last year and Sheffield United’s resulting relegation, it would be ignorant to dismiss the four years he had at Bramall Lane prior to this season.
Wilder did brilliantly to win promotion from the Championship with the Blades in 2018/19 and there’s no denying he did an amazing job to get the Yorkshire club to finish ninth in the Premier League last season.
He’s also won promotions while in charge at Alfreton Town, Oxford United and Northampton Town in what has been a distinguished managerial career to date.
Wilder is also someone who takes jobs for a long period having spent almost five years at Sheffield United, two years at Northampton and six years at Oxford United.
As reported by Percy, he’s someone who “ticks a lot of boxes for the Albion hierarchy as he has already achieved promotions and is a free agent”.
Speaking to HITC last month, ex-Leicester and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey also gave his backing to West Brom to hire Wilder, saying he’s a “phenomenal manager”.
If the Baggies do go ahead and hire the 53-year-old, then we hope Heskey is proven to be right.
In other West Brom news, this 23-year-old could be released by Albion next month with a Championship move on the cards.
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