What Chris Wilder said about Sheffield United takeover completion and the future of the Blades

The Star, Sheffield

Transcript

00:00The takeover is now complete, it's finally done, so what's your immediate reaction to that news?

00:05I think clarity all round was something that we were all after as well.

00:09I didn't involve myself too much in the process.

00:12I was kept in the loop by Stephen Bates.

00:16I'm grateful for his input towards that for me,

00:22but we just keep going and concentrate on the main event,

00:26which is trying to win games of football, which we have done.

00:29They deserve an enormous amount of credit for the way they keep producing performances and results,

00:35different types as well.

00:37But I think for the overall calmness of a football club,

00:43direction and clarity is key and now we have that.

00:48Can you give us an idea of what it's like being the manager when something like this happens?

00:52Have you spoken to the new owners?

00:54Have they given you any information that you might feel would be quite important for you,

00:59especially with January around the corner?

01:01Yes, I had dialogue with the new owners through Stephen.

01:06They came out and said they would like to back us in January.

01:13I've talked to Stephen through that process.

01:21I met the co-chairman, both of them, at the Sheffield Wednesday game.

01:26Obviously, there wasn't a lot of time to go into in-depth.

01:29I've got a meeting with both of them on the 27th.

01:34They're coming to the game on the 26th and I'll be meeting up with them on the 27th

01:41to show them around the training ground, meet our staff and talk about January.

01:47Obviously, from my point of view, that is our biggest target to nail and to get right.

01:58In terms of what we need, as I've talked about, quality over quantity,

02:05experience over inexperience and maybe two or three players to help the team.

02:14We're a little bit stretched at the moment.

02:16If we can do that, that's great.

02:18We'll have those discussions.

02:23In the meantime, obviously, a huge game on the 26th.

02:27Looking forward to the next chapter in our long historic past as a football club.

02:38There's a big opportunity here, isn't there?

02:40The new owners will take over a club that is top of the Championship.

02:44The immediate opportunity is helping you get the club back into the Premier League.

02:49Beyond that, an opportunity may be, because this region has been crying out for a team

02:54that can find a way of sticking in the Premier League, Chris.

02:57There's an opportunity to try and make that a reality.

03:00Of course, in our position, we've had a fantastic start.

03:04As I've said, we're halfway through an incredibly tough, gruelling season.

03:13I like my comparisons at times.

03:17We're 36 holes in and we've made the cut, but a lot can happen in the final two days.

03:24A lot can happen on the back nine, as always shown through twists and turns.

03:30We've put ourselves in a great position, from a football point of view,

03:34from a points point of view, in terms of where we're placed right now.

03:38I think, always, there has to be a plan.

03:41Whatever we do, as coaches and managers, short, medium and long term,

03:45and I'm sure the new owners will have that.

03:48I thought the statement was absolutely spot on.

03:51In terms of embracing the football club, the city and the culture,

03:57and to take it forward.

03:59I've got to go on record and thank Prince Abdullah for all his efforts and hard work

04:04that he's put into the football club over the past decade.

04:08I'd be entirely grateful for the opportunity that him and Kevin gave me in 2016

04:13to come back, to come home, when we were languishing in the pub league,

04:19as it was nicknamed in this area.

04:23I think we've had a decent period.

04:25Listen, there's been some down times in that.

04:27There's been some lows in that, but I think the majority of it, on the pitch,

04:32will be looked at as a very successful time.

04:35Years in the Premier League, FA Cup semi-final,

04:38a couple of promotions in there as well.

04:41So, it's been a good time for us as a football club and we want that to continue.

04:44We want to dominate the area, as I always wanted to do

04:47when I first came back into the football club,

04:49which I think we have done since 2019, 2018, 2019.

04:54We want to continue doing that.

04:56We obviously have to have the ambition, of course.

04:59Ambition, personally, to do as well as we possibly can

05:02and for the players to play at the highest level

05:04and the club to be at the highest level, which is the English Premier League.

05:09And then, which is the hard part, is to establish ourselves

05:13and get a foothold in that division.

05:15So, always short, medium and long-term goals, I'm sure.

05:20In a way, I'm quite comfortable with.

05:25I don't think it will be a checkbook scenario where we go

05:31and all of a sudden go from zero miles per hour

05:38to 100 miles per hour in the space of six months.

05:41I think the best plans are put in action

05:45and it's evolution more than revolution.

05:49It will take us time in terms of getting there,

05:51but we're in a great position in terms of our league position.

05:54We won't turn down the opportunity of stepping into the Premier League

05:57if that happens in the next six months.

06:00I'd said the same when people said in 2019,

06:03you're not ready to go up.

06:05You can't ever turn that opportunity down and we won't.

06:09But I think everybody understands what the Premier League is about now,

06:12the strength of it, the financial commitment

06:14that everybody has to make to it.

06:18We'll try and find our own way, as we always have done.

06:22If we can do that, then that would be great.

06:24To answer your question that you asked about five minutes ago,

06:27we'd love to establish ourselves in the Premier League.

06:31A lot of clubs have done that.

06:33It's tough, but we'll give it a go.

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