Chris Wilder has worked wonders at Championship promotions chasers Sheffield United but will he replace Alan Pardew at West Bromwich Albion?
Perhaps the only positive to come out of the news that West Brom have parted ways with Alan Pardew is that the Baggies have time on their hands now to choose the right man to pick them up from off the floor.
It is understood that a wide range of managers are on the shortlist to takeover at The Hawthorns and, tellingly, most of them have Championship experience on their CV.
Dean Smith, Nigel Pearson, Michael Appleton and Derek McInnes have been known to be under consideration for a while but, according to the Birmingham Mail, Chris Wilder is on the list too.
And, considering the job he has done since taking over at Sheffield United, so he should be. A straight talking Yorkshireman, the 50-year-old took over his boyhood club in 2016 after leading Northampton Town to the League Two title and he repeated the trick the division above.
The Blades cruised to promotion after six years away with a tally of 100 points and have more than held their own back in the Championship too. With less than a month to go this season, Sheffield United are still just a point adrift of the play-off positions.
So it is no surprise that Wilder, a manager renowned for getting the best out of the talent at his disposal and turning around sides lacking a direction and stern voice, should be on West Brom’s list of potential targets.
The Mail claimed back in November that West Brom were considering Wilder as Tony Pulis’ successor before deciding on Pardew. But, with Championship football almost a certainty next season, appointing Wilder would make even more sense now.
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