Sheffield United: Boss is set to learn his fate

Members of the League One club’s hierarchy met at a secret location in the city yesterday as their investigation into the team’s disappointing season entered its final phase.

Chris Wilder, who led Northampton Town to promotion from League Two last term, will be United’s preferred choice if co-owners Kevin McCabe and HRH Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Abdulaziz Al Saud decide to part company with Adkins. Wilder, a former United player, met with Charlton Athletic earlier this week but failed to reach agreement over the position Jose Riga vacated five days ago.

Although Adkins expressed a desire to continue immediately after Sunday’s defeat by Scunthorpe - which condemned United to their lowest league finish since 1983 - his position came under threat after supporters called for him to be sacked during the game.

Despite reports to the contrary, The Star understands that Kazım Ersun Yanal, previously of Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce, is not viewed as genuine candidate should United decide a change is required.

Adkins, meanwhile, is continuing to hold one-to-one reviews with every member of the first team squad he inherited from Nigel Clough in June last year. Together with his coaching staff, Adkins is thought to have drawn-up a list of potential transfer targets ahead of the summer window. Colchester’s George Moncur does not feature among them despite being monitored by scouts purporting to represent United in January.

United host Huddersfield Town in the PDL under-21 final on Saturday at 1pm.