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What Chris Wilder said about Sheffield United takeover completion and the future of the Blades
The Star, Sheffield
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24/12/2024
What Chris Wilder said about Sheffield United takeover completion and the future of the Blades
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Sports
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00:00
The takeover is now complete, it's finally done, so what's your immediate reaction to that news?
00:05
I think clarity all round was something that we were all after as well.
00:09
I didn't involve myself too much in the process.
00:12
I was kept in the loop by Stephen Bates.
00:16
I'm grateful for his input towards that for me,
00:22
but we just keep going and concentrate on the main event,
00:26
which is trying to win games of football, which we have done.
00:29
They deserve an enormous amount of credit for the way they keep producing performances and results,
00:35
different types as well.
00:37
But I think for the overall calmness of a football club,
00:43
direction and clarity is key and now we have that.
00:48
Can you give us an idea of what it's like being the manager when something like this happens?
00:52
Have you spoken to the new owners?
00:54
Have they given you any information that you might feel would be quite important for you,
00:59
especially with January around the corner?
01:01
Yes, I had dialogue with the new owners through Stephen.
01:06
They came out and said they would like to back us in January.
01:13
I've talked to Stephen through that process.
01:21
I met the co-chairman, both of them, at the Sheffield Wednesday game.
01:26
Obviously, there wasn't a lot of time to go into in-depth.
01:29
I've got a meeting with both of them on the 27th.
01:34
They're coming to the game on the 26th and I'll be meeting up with them on the 27th
01:41
to show them around the training ground, meet our staff and talk about January.
01:47
Obviously, from my point of view, that is our biggest target to nail and to get right.
01:58
In terms of what we need, as I've talked about, quality over quantity,
02:05
experience over inexperience and maybe two or three players to help the team.
02:14
We're a little bit stretched at the moment.
02:16
If we can do that, that's great.
02:18
We'll have those discussions.
02:23
In the meantime, obviously, a huge game on the 26th.
02:27
Looking forward to the next chapter in our long historic past as a football club.
02:38
There's a big opportunity here, isn't there?
02:40
The new owners will take over a club that is top of the Championship.
02:44
The immediate opportunity is helping you get the club back into the Premier League.
02:49
Beyond that, an opportunity may be, because this region has been crying out for a team
02:54
that can find a way of sticking in the Premier League, Chris.
02:57
There's an opportunity to try and make that a reality.
03:00
Of course, in our position, we've had a fantastic start.
03:04
As I've said, we're halfway through an incredibly tough, gruelling season.
03:13
I like my comparisons at times.
03:17
We're 36 holes in and we've made the cut, but a lot can happen in the final two days.
03:24
A lot can happen on the back nine, as always shown through twists and turns.
03:30
We've put ourselves in a great position, from a football point of view,
03:34
from a points point of view, in terms of where we're placed right now.
03:38
I think, always, there has to be a plan.
03:41
Whatever we do, as coaches and managers, short, medium and long term,
03:45
and I'm sure the new owners will have that.
03:48
I thought the statement was absolutely spot on.
03:51
In terms of embracing the football club, the city and the culture,
03:57
and to take it forward.
03:59
I've got to go on record and thank Prince Abdullah for all his efforts and hard work
04:04
that he's put into the football club over the past decade.
04:08
I'd be entirely grateful for the opportunity that him and Kevin gave me in 2016
04:13
to come back, to come home, when we were languishing in the pub league,
04:19
as it was nicknamed in this area.
04:23
I think we've had a decent period.
04:25
Listen, there's been some down times in that.
04:27
There's been some lows in that, but I think the majority of it, on the pitch,
04:32
will be looked at as a very successful time.
04:35
Years in the Premier League, FA Cup semi-final,
04:38
a couple of promotions in there as well.
04:41
So, it's been a good time for us as a football club and we want that to continue.
04:44
We want to dominate the area, as I always wanted to do
04:47
when I first came back into the football club,
04:49
which I think we have done since 2019, 2018, 2019.
04:54
We want to continue doing that.
04:56
We obviously have to have the ambition, of course.
04:59
Ambition, personally, to do as well as we possibly can
05:02
and for the players to play at the highest level
05:04
and the club to be at the highest level, which is the English Premier League.
05:09
And then, which is the hard part, is to establish ourselves
05:13
and get a foothold in that division.
05:15
So, always short, medium and long-term goals, I'm sure.
05:20
In a way, I'm quite comfortable with.
05:25
I don't think it will be a checkbook scenario where we go
05:31
and all of a sudden go from zero miles per hour
05:38
to 100 miles per hour in the space of six months.
05:41
I think the best plans are put in action
05:45
and it's evolution more than revolution.
05:49
It will take us time in terms of getting there,
05:51
but we're in a great position in terms of our league position.
05:54
We won't turn down the opportunity of stepping into the Premier League
05:57
if that happens in the next six months.
06:00
I'd said the same when people said in 2019,
06:03
you're not ready to go up.
06:05
You can't ever turn that opportunity down and we won't.
06:09
But I think everybody understands what the Premier League is about now,
06:12
the strength of it, the financial commitment
06:14
that everybody has to make to it.
06:18
We'll try and find our own way, as we always have done.
06:22
If we can do that, then that would be great.
06:24
To answer your question that you asked about five minutes ago,
06:27
we'd love to establish ourselves in the Premier League.
06:31
A lot of clubs have done that.
06:33
It's tough, but we'll give it a go.
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