What Chris Wilder said about his Sheffield United future after week of speculation he will leave Bramall Lane

Wilder's odds to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post were cut dramatically earlier in the week, leading to an outpouring of speculation and rumour that he will soon leave his boyhood club.

But Wilder remains in post and faced the media this lunchtime, ahead of tomorrow's third-round clash at the Memorial Stadium.

"First of all I don't do social media and it's been another tough week in what's been quite a tough season for us all," he said.

"There's always going to be rumours in football so I don't deal in that, I just focus on the next game and on preparing the team for a difficult FA Cup tie.

"I'm Sheffield United manager. Rumours and speculation, whether you win or lose. In football nothing really surprises you at all but as far as I'm concerned, it's head down and onto the next game and that's all I'm prepared to talk about."

Wilder remains in constant dialogue with chief executive Stephen Bettis about his plans for the Blades in the long term.

"I'm always speaking to the club and to the chief exec about the short, medium and long term vision of the club," Wilder added.

"Any manager has that relationship with the chief exec and they have that relationship with the board, there's constant dialogue with me and Steve Bettis.

"I put my views forward, as honestly as I will always do, for what I think is the best thing for the club.

We've always got opinions in what direction we want to see a club move in but I'm an employee of the club and I'm here to prepare the team to the best of my ability for the next game and give my views on where we should be going.

"I've always been a hands-on manager and I'm interested in anything. All I can do is do that and respect who I'm working with and who I'm employed by."

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of Blades coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details HERE. Your support is much appreciated. Chris Holt, Football Editor