Newly appointed Sheffield United chairman, Prince Musa’ad bin Khalid Al Saud, has given an update on the future of manager Chris Wilder.
The son-in-law of Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad, he was named in the role shortly after his father-in-law was granted sole ownership of the club in a High Court judgement in September.
Only 26-years-old, Prince Musa’ad is the youngest chairman in the Premier League. He and his wife, Princess Latifa, are relocating permanently to Sheffield to run the Blades.
While Prince Abdullah has been relatively silent since becoming involved with the club back in 2013, Prince Musa’ad is delegated to provide more transparency.
So what does the Sheffield United chairman say about Wilder?
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There has been plenty of speculation concerning the future of Wilder at Bramall Lane already this season. The Mirror reported that West Ham United would be interested in the 52-year-old if they sacked Manuel Pellegrini.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson suggested Wilder would be a good option for the Gunners. This was before they sacked Unai Emery.
It’s little surprise, considering the impressive start the Blades have made to their first top flight season in 12 years. Ahead of tonight’s match with Newcastle United they are ninth in the table with a game in hand. If they win they would rise to sixth.
So presumably the club would do all they can to hold onto Wilder? Apparently not, according to Prince Musa’ad.
“No one is bigger than the club,” he told View from the John Street. “Owner, manager, players.
“We hope Chris stays with us for many years to come, but this is football.”
This probably isn’t the emphatic answer many Blades fans were hoping for. But then, Prince Musa’ad is right – no one is bigger than the club.
Wilder has a strong connection with Bramall Lane as a boyhood fan and academy product. Yet he is also ambitious and the prospect of managing some of the sides he’s been linked with could prove tempting.
