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The 52-year-old, whose side climbed to fifth in the table after beating West Ham, put pen to paper on an agreement lasting until 2024 before the 1-0 victory over David Moyes’ side.

With Aston Villa’s Dean Smith and Graham Potter of Brighton and Hove Albion being rewarded for their work earlier this term, questions had been asked why United had not followed suit given their results under Wilder since his appointment in 2016.

Although they rectified the situation ahead of tonight’s fixture, it appears negotiations had been scheduled to conclude at the end of the campaign before United’s owner HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud intervened.

Chris Wilder manager of Sheffield Utd shales hands with owner of Sheffield Utd H.R.H. Prince Abdullah after signing a new four and half year contract before the Premier League match at Bramall Lane, Sheffield: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

With Enda Stevens, John Egan and John Lundstram also holding contracts talks and the transfer window now open, Wilder was asked if the timing was significant.

He told The Star: “I think players are looking to see what will happen with a manager.

“They were talking about getting it done at the end of the season and then they said ‘let’s bring it forward.’”

“I don’t have to go on record and say what this club means to me,” Wilder, a lifelong United supporter, added. “But it’s also been a difficult day because there was an important game of football to prepare for. And make no mistake, it was very important.”

United, who have been promoted twice under Wilder’s tutelage, prevailed thanks to Oli McBurnie’s second-half effort after a mistake by West Ham’s substitute goalkeeper David Martin.

The former MK Dons player gifted possession to John Fleck, who powered forward and squared for his fellow Scotland international to score.

West Ham, who had earlier lost Lukasz Fabianski to injury, thought they had equalised deep into added time when Robert Snodgrass converted. But his strike was ruled-out by VAR, with officials at Stockley Park ruling Declan Rice had handled the ball during the build-up.

“To get to 32 points at this stage of the season is a great reward for this club,” Wilder said. “But I feel a little bit deflated to be honest, because of what happened to David (Moyes). I know what he’s felt and I’ve felt it in the past. Our boys have felt it in the past.”

Richard Stearman has joined Huddersfield Town after his contract with United was terminated by mutual consent.

Sheffield United brought forward plans to hand Chris Wilder a new contract