Sheffield United manager state of play as Chris Wilder agrees deal to replace Paul Heckingbottom

Chris Wilder, the legendary former Sheffield United manager, is open to returning to his boyhood club in the wake of Paul Heckingbottom's departure from Bramall Lane, The Star understands. United made their decision about Heckingbottom's future after Saturday's 5-0 hammering at Burnley, which left them bottom of the table with five points from 14 games.

The former Barnsley manager went out in defiant fashion, unable to hide his frustration at some of his players - including striker Oli McBurnie, who was sent off - after the capitulation at Turf Moor. Heckingbottom insisted he could leave the stadium with his head held high and conducted a furious post-match debrief with his players, with the insinuation that they could not do the same.

Why have Sheffield United sacked Paul Heckingbottom?

It was one of the themes of his unveiling press conference just over two years ago, that he wouldn't be judged on just results, but they have played a huge part in his downfall. But the manner of United's last two defeats, at home to Bournemouth and away at Burnley, will also likely have contributed, United hardly laying a glove on two sides considered to be amongst their rivals in the relegation scrap.

The 5-0 at Burnley proved the last straw, with the hosts strolling to a victory that could have been even more convincing despite going into it on the back of seven straight defeats and having not won a single point at Turf Moor since being promoted alongside United earlier in the year. The table suggests that United's survival bid is actually far from an impossible task - they are only four points adrift of fourth-bottom Luton Town - but on current form, with a squad devoid of confidence and belief, that seems a long way away.

Official confirmation when it arrives will also clarify the futures of assistant manager Stuart McCall and coach Jack Lester, who joined Heckingbottom as part of his coaching team when he was appointed as permanent manager just over two years ago. Conversations are taking place behind the scenes at Bramall Lane to determine who will take charge of the team for Wednesday night's home clash against Liverpool.

Will Chris Wilder return to Sheffield United?

Yes. The Blades legend has agreed an 18-month deal to return to Bramall Lane. A former Blades player, Wilder won two promotions with his hometown club and led them to a memorable ninth-placed finish in the Premier League during a season which saw them challenge for Europe before Covid-19 and a national lockdown derailed them. Wilder left the following season after a breakdown in relations with the club's hierarchy - but those relationships have long since been patched up.

Wilder has had spells at Middlesbrough and Watford since leaving the Lane, and brought many members of United's current squad to South Yorkshire, many enjoying the best times of their careers under the 56-year-old. Alan Knill and Matt Prestridge will also return to Bramall Lane, having worked with Wilder in his successful spell, while former Ireland assistant Keith Andrews will join Wilder's coaching set-up.

How have Sheffield United fans reacted to the news?

After Saturday's horror show at Burnley not many will be surprised but pleasingly there seems to be a lot of respect towards Heckingbottom, if the social media temperature is any gauge. Much of the anger and blame seems to be pointed upstairs in terms of the budget Heckingbottom was given to work with, with an acceptance that he was working with not just one arm tied behind his back but his legs chopped off as well.

Others believed the axe should have fallen earlier, particularly after the 8-0 defeat to Newcastle, but the credit Heckingbottom had built up earned him the chance to put things right in two games against the Blades' relegation rivals Bournemouth and Burnley. Unfortunately by the time of Burnley's fifth he was well into the overdraft but judged on the whole of his reign, he can certainly hold his head high as he walks out of Bramall Lane for the final time.

What did Paul Heckingbottom say about his future?

The writing on the wall for Heckingbottom came on Saturday when sections of the away support began chanting: "We want Hecky out." The manager admitted that when the fans turn, it "changes the dynamic" but he remained convinced he could turn things around, before the decision to make a change was made. "It doesn't change how I feel or change my job," he said of the chants.

"When you've been in the game long enough, whether you're a player getting the stick, or a manager... I've just said to the players in there, I can walk out of here with my head held high. I know I can. But you can't kid people. You can't. And that's what I'm saying to the players now. The fans are right to shout, and say that wasn't good enough. I was almost signing along with them at one point."

Always fiercely protective of his players in the media, that last point felt like a real sea change in Heckingbottom's mentality and was delivered not long after a heated post-match inquest in which his voice was the only one allowed to be heard.