Sheffield United Shareholders to Have Meeting Today And Make Final Decision on Chris Wilder | OneFootball

Chris Wilder is on the verge of leaving Sheffield United once again, just 18 months after making a highly anticipated return to the club he famously led from League One to the Premier League in his first spell.

The 57-year-old, who rejoined the Blades in December 2023, is now facing the axe amid growing tensions behind the scenes at Bramall Lane. Shareholders are set for a meeting today, with a final decision on Wilder’s future expected to be made, per The Independent.

Rumours have been swirling for weeks after the Championship play-off final defeat to Sunderland, but they’ve intensified dramatically in recent days. The unrest appears to stem from key disagreements between Wilder and the club’s board due to the recruitment strategy (the new AI scouting system).

According to multiple sources, Wilder has grown frustrated with the club’s direction in the transfer market, particularly with the increasing influence of data-driven and AI-based scouting methods. The situation escalated following a report in May by journalist Alan Nixon, who revealed that Sheffield United were planning to implement an AI recruitment system this summer to identify all of their new signings.

Of course, they did test it out in the January transfer window by bringing in Christian Nwachukwu and Jefferson Caceres, who are yet to feature for the first team. And they’ve already snapped up another player using this method with the recent arrival of Nigerian winger Ehije Success Ukaki from Botev Plovdiv, the same Bulgarian team in which Nwachukwu came from.

Sheffield United Board Not in Agreement on Chris Wilder’s Future Right Now

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MAY 3: Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder applauds the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Blackburn Rovers FC at Bramall Lane on May 3, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images)

Sources close to the club suggest Wilder has been pushing for experienced Championship players with proven pedigree, while key figures on the board favour a more modern, data-led model focusing on younger, undervalued talent from overseas leagues. It’s also worth noting that sources have stated the board members are split on whether or not to keep Wilder in charge.

Regardless of the outcome, today’s shareholder meeting promises to be decisive. If Wilder is relieved of his duties, it will mark the end of a dramatic second spell filled with challenges both on and off the pitch, due to last summer’s huge rebuild and having to deal with a two-point deduction at the start of the season. Nevertheless, this may be the beginning of yet another new chapter at Bramall Lane.