BREAKING NEWS First sacking of the Premier League season is CONFIRMED as Paul Heckingbottom is given the boot by bottom club Sheffield United… with former boss Chris Wilder replacing him

• Sheffield United were thrashed 5-0 away at Burnley on Saturday afternoon
• The Blades sit bottom of the Premier League table with five points from 14 games
• We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

Sheffield United have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom after their disastrous 5-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday – with Chris Wilder set to return to the club and be officially re-appointed on Tuesday afternoon.

The result was the Blades’ 11th defeat in their opening 14 league matches this term, and leaves them bottom of the table on just five points, four adrift of safety.

Heckingbottom is the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season, with Sheffield United facing a potential return to the Championship.

The 46-year-old guided the club to promotion last season, but his team have looked prime candidates for relegation throughout the first four months of the current campaign.

As Mail Sport reported back in October and again on Sunday, former boss Chris Wilder is set to return to the Blades, following Heckingbottom’s departure – with Sheffield United owner Prince Abdullah confirming as such on talkSPORT on Tuesday morning.

Sheffield United have sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom after their disastrous 5-0 loss at Burnley on Saturday afternoon

The Blades were humiliated at Turf Moor against a Burnley side that had lost the previous four games and won just once this season in the Premier League 

Chris Wilder is now set to return to the Blades amid their ongoing relegation battle

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 ‘Yes [I have made the decision],’ he said confirming the news about Heckingbottom’s sacking.

‘Chris is practically an honour of the club, he’s part of Sheffield United history. One thing I always like to do, not just in football but all of my businesses, is to keep a good relationship with my ex-employees no matter how it ended, I think you should get over it.

‘At the end of the day we’re all passionate about what we do and we believe Chris is the right man for the job. Chris has done great things for the club and in my opinion he’s the best guy on planet earth to take over the club right now in these circumstances.’

Mail Sport revealed back in September that Wilder had been sounded out over a shock return to Bramall Lane and, having picked up jut one win since then, looks set to return. 

Wilder spent five years at the club, between 2016 and 2021, before eventually leaving the club by mutual consent amid the Blades’ struggling league form.  

Heckingbottom, meanwhile, oversaw a difficult transfer window over the summer, as the Blades waved goodbye to promotion stalwarts Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye.

England Under-21 international Cameron Archer arrived from Aston Villa for £18million, while Gustavo Hamer joined from Coventry in a £15m deal and Vini Souza was signed from Belgian side Lommel for £11m and Tom Davies arrived on a free transfer from Everton.

However, the additions have done little to boost the Blades’ form – having scored the fewest goals (11) and conceded the most (39) in the league. 

Heckingbottom admitted after Saturday’s defeat that he was feeling the pressure at Bramall Lane after sections of the away fans started chanting ‘Hecky out’ during the match.

‘If the fans start, it changes the dynamic,’ said Heckingbottom. ‘The fans are right to shout, say we’re not good enough. You can’t kid them. I was as angry as well and almost singing along with them.

‘Burnley would not have been expecting a game like that and neither would I. It was massively disappointing. But I can leave with my head held high. I know how I work.

‘You’re asking the wrong person [about his future]. I’ve had those questions since September.’

The Blades are bottom of the Premier League after taking just five points from their 14 games

Newcastle scored five second half goals in their demolition of Sheffield United in September

Heckingbottom may have been referring to the aftermath of his side’s humiliating 8-0 loss at home to Newcastle in late September, which saw former Blades boss Chris Wilder linked with a return to the dugout.

The 46-year-old was given more time to turn things around after that humiliating result, but has been unable to get the positive results needed and has now lost his job. 

United will likely look to bring in a replacement quickly with a busy December fixture list ahead.

The Blades are back in action on Wednesday when they host Liverpool, and they are set to face Brentford, Chelsea and Aston Villa before Christmas. 

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

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