Chris Wilder potential next club

We take a look at potential destinations for Chris Wilder after he left Sheffield United by mutual consent.

Promotions with Northampton Town and Sheffield United make Wilder of the most defining managers in recent EFL history with LMA Manager of the Year awards in the Championship, League One and League Two.

He recently fell short of a second Championship promotion with the Blades but accumulated a club record points total that would have achieved a Premier League in most seasons gone before.

Preston North End

Doubts over Paul Heckingbottom's reign at Preston North End have been building since the back end of last season.

One win from their final 15 league matches meant that The Lilywhites were dragged into a wholly unnecessary relegation battle that required a final day point at Bristol City to secure their Championship safety.

Heckingbottom has the worst win percentage of any Preston manager across the last 12 years and a poor start to the 2025/26 campaign could spell the end of his time in charge.

A move for Chris Wilder could get more out of a squad that possesses some really talented individuals with Emil Riis Jacobsen, Lewis Gibson and Mads Frøkjær-Jensen amongst most promising.

Blackburn Rovers

Turbulent could be a word used to describe Valerien Ismael's time in the Ewood Park dugout with no wins in his opening seven matches swiftly combated by four wins from five to end the season.

The initial poor run - one that included five losses on the bounce - ultimately cost Blackburn a place in the playoffs and there were serious calls for the Frenchman to be relieved on his duties.

A return to those performance levels have the potential to be the end of Ismael's time at Blackburn and with the Championship looking particularly wide open this season, fans will be eyeing a place in the playoffs.

There wouldn't be too many better placed to deliver on this than Chris Wilder.

Barnsley

A big club with a big fanbase, whilst Barnsley might not quite be ready for League One promotion this time around, expectations will be high from Tykes fans.

Conor Hourihane currently occupies the Oakwell hotseat after being awarded the full-time job after a spell as caretaker boss.

Hourihane - a former Barnsley skipper - has taken charge of 10 matches, losing half of them and winning just two.

Whilst the 34-year-old might receive some goodwill from the Oakwell faithful if results don't go to plan initially, a continued slump could lead to the end of his tenure.

Wilder would be a bold and likely expensive name to go after but it would be a show of ambition befitting of the history in which the club is steeped in.