'Gutted' - Brian Deane takes to Twitter to voice Sheffield United fears after Chris Wilder exit update

News broke on Friday that the 53-year-old is expected to leave the Blades following a five-year stint that has seen him take them from League One to the Premier League.

United enjoyed an impressive return to the top flight under Wilder’s guidance last term, but have struggled massively this time around, and are currently rooted to the foot of the table.

The Blades are 12 points adrift of safety with 10 games left to play.

Writing on his personal Twitter account on Saturday morning, Deane voiced his concerns over where Wilder’s exit will leave his former club going forward.

He said: “I’m gutted for CW, he got Sheffield United into the mess of 5 years of success.

"Nobody is perfect or above criticism but I really have no idea what direction the club will go in now.

"It’s a big statement and I hope the owners have a plan in place that was bigger and better than the last one.”

United come up against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon hoping to improve on their current run of one win in their last five Premier League outings.

U23s manager Paul Heckingbottom will take charge for that game, and the ex-Leeds United boss has already emerged as one of the early front-runners to take over from Wilder on a full-time basis.

Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon is also leading the race among bookies.