Sheffield United owner, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has insisted that he wants the club to continue to go forward after handing Chris Wilder a new deal.
ROTHERHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Sheffield United co-owner and chairman Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is seen during the Sky Bet League One match between Rotherham United and Sheffield United at the Millmoor Ground on September 7, 2013 in Rotherham, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
The Blades owner has tied Wilder and assistant, Alan Knill, down to new four and a half year contracts at Bramall Lane. The decision puts an end to any immediate speculation surrounding the Blades boss’ future.
But speaking before the game against West Ham last night, the Prince insisted he wants the club keep building.
“I think we need to establish ourselves as a Premier League club. We want to become the better United,” he said (Sky Sports).
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“Not just this season, but next season too, we know it will be very tough. I think the most important thing is to have good management and coaching, which we have. So it’s important to lock it down.
Plenty of pundits have called on some of the bigger Premier League clubs to take a look at Wilder this season.
However, Prince Abdullah said it was never in doubt, and that he approached Wilder in the summer regarding a new deal.
“I spoke with Chris over the summer. I told him we would come to him before he comes to us. We have done that, and we think he deserves it for what he has done,” he added.
A massive signing
As January signings go, they don’t come much bigger than this for Sheffield United.
Wilder, along with Knill, has been front and centre to everything good about the club of late. He’s taken them from League One to the Premier League at a remarkable pace.
Chris Wilder and Alan Knill have both been handed new deals at Sheffield United by Prince Abdullah. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Now, it seems he is already well on his way to establishing the Blades as a Premier League club. Before the 3 pm kick-offs today, the Blades sat a very healthy fifth in the table.
With just three weeks of January left, Wilder will be hoping to strengthen his squad once again with the hope of kicking on further in the second half of the campaign.
