The English Premier League’s bottom club, Sheffield United, have reportedly fired their manager Chris Wilder after a season in which they have lost 22 out of 28 games.
But social media, and in particular Twitter, has come to his defence with hundreds of people criticising the club’s board for sacking him.
Sky Sports said on Friday, 12 March, Wilder had left his job as Sheffield United manager after five years with the club staring relegation in the face.
United - who are known as The Blades because of Sheffield’s history as a centre of the British steel industry - have only 14 points and would need to go on an incredible run if they are to stay up.
Wilder, 53, was a fan of the club as a boy and achieved his dream of managing them in 2016.
He got them from the third tier of English football to the Premier League and their performances had pundits purring last season.
Their ninth place finish in 2019/20 was their highest league position in 28 years.
But the board have now reportedly dismissed him and are searching for a new manager, with Croatia’s Slaven Bilic said to be among the front-runners.
Despite United’s terrible run of form - their 2-0 defeat to Southampton on 10 March was their 22nd loss this season - many football fans on social media had sympathy for Wilder, whose biggest signing - striker Rhian Brewster from Liverpool - has failed to score a single goal since his £23 million move last summer.