The Sheffield United manager was linked with a move to Sunderland last summer.
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder is the early second favourite to become Sunderland’s next manager with Sky Bet.
Sunderland announced the sacking of previous boss Chris Coleman on Sunday, when confirmation of the club’s prospective sale to a consortium fronted by Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald was also made public.
Mick McCarthy, the manager who led Sunderland back to the Premier League 13 years ago, has already been linked with a return to the Stadium of Light, and is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Sky Bet’s front runner for the role at 6/4, having left Ipswich Town earlier this month.
Wilder’s prominence, at 5/2, is somewhat less expected, although the Sheffield United boss was linked with the Sunderland position a year ago and is a former manager of Oxford United – the club supported, and previously invested in, by Donald.
And despite an impressive two years in charge of his boyhood Blades, the 50-year-old’s comments in the wake of Saturday’s home defeat by Preston North End, in which he suggested that ongoing boardroom disharmony could cause him to quit Bramall Lane, should encourage potential suitors.
Wilder is sure to have Championship and perhaps even Premier League interest this summer, although the chance to manage a club of Sunderland’s stature, and kick off a new era on Wearside – albeit in League One – could appeal to the third and fourth tier title winner.
Another former Oxford boss, Michael Appleton (7/2), Jaap Stam (5/1) and Paul Hurst (8/1) are the other leading contenders.
Could Wilder quit Sheffield United for Sunderland?
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