Leeds and Sunderland fans react to Chris Wilder 'madness' at Sheffield United
Sheffield United's decision to sack Chris Wilder has surprised the fans of two clubs who beat them to the Premier League last season.
Wilder's Blades came up short in the cruellest possible fashion in the Championship play-off final on 24 May, as Tommy Watson scored an injury-time winner for Sunderland to spark pandemonium at Wembley.
Sheffield United's last-gasp defeat consigns them to another season in the second tier after they were first beaten to automatic promotion by Leeds United and Burnley, both of whom accumulated 100 points.
The Blades won a record 92 of their own to finish third in spite of a two-point deduction at the start of the campaign, but a late-season collapse of four defeats in seven will see Wilder pay the ultimate price.
Sheffield United make Wilder sack decision at Bramall Lane
After a tail-off in form saw the Blades drop from the Championship summit to a distant third behind Leeds and Burnley before their loss to Sunderland, Sheffield United were "reviewing" Wilder's position.
An official announcement is yet to be made at Bramall Lane, but Football Insider understands that Sheffield United's new owners COH Sports have decided to dismiss Wilder.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed on 30th May that Wilder was facing the sack at Bramall Lane following the club's promotion failure.
Wilder has had no reported bust-ups with the Blades' ownership group despite some disagreements over transfer in January, and the 57-year-old has been "blind-sided" by Sheffield United's decision.
Sheffield United's rivals in shock at 'crackers' Wilder decision
Football Insider have already revealed that the recently-sacked former Hull manager Ruben Selles is in advanced talks to succeed Wilder at Sheffield United, as an announcement beckons from the hierarchy.
The Blades' promotion rivals Sunderland and Leeds are ready to pounce for the likes of Gustavo Hamer, but both sets of fans have been left flabbergasted at the "crackers" choice to relieve Wilder of his duties.
Sunderland supporters declared that the "game has gone mad", while Leeds fans added that Sheffield United's decision was "madness", and that Wilder would have "comfortably" won promotion next season with the Blades.