Next Leeds manager: Simon Jordan would be ‘perplexed’ if club hire Chris Wilder

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Simon Jordan has told TalkSPORT that he would be “perplexed” if Leeds United make a bizarre move to bring in Chris Wilder as manager – claiming he has “heard” murmurs the club could bring the Sheffield United icon to Elland Road.

Wilder, 55, is hugely experienced in English football both as a player, and now a manager. Clocking up just 21 games shy of an enormous 1000 since becoming a manager, he has delivered four promotions in his career in the dugout.

But he is out of work as things stand. In his fifth spell as a manager – previously Halifax, Oxford United, Northampton, Sheffield United – Wilder struggled at Middlesbrough. After just 18 wins in 45 games, he was replaced in October 2022.

Michael Carrick has since gone to the Riverside and excelled in the Championship. Boro now look a solid bet to finish in the top six, sitting third – 10 points behind the top two. Wilder has not been linked with a move to Leeds as boss.

But as Leeds continue to dwindle in their search, and two crucial games coming up against Everton and Southampton, a manager is needed. Jordan says he has heard Wilder mentioned – but completely dismissed a move to Leeds for him.

“I hear things like Chris Wilder and I put my head in my hands, if that’s a conversation. I’d be perplexed if that is an outcome that would provide a happy, together fanbase. Given, he managed Sheffield United,” Jordan told TalkSPORT.

Simon Jordan would be perplexed if Leeds made Chris Wilder move

Let’s just make this clear, first off. Wilder is not going to be the next Leeds manager, and he has not been linked with a move to Elland Road. You would expect Wilder would jump at the chance. But his past would rule out a move to Leeds.

Even then, he is a Championship-level boss at the moment. He is beneath what Leeds are right now. Yes, Wilder may be a decent candidate if Leeds go down and the Whites need a manager to get them back up, forgetting his past.

But Wilder has managed one of our rivals – and has made numerous comments about Leeds in the past. Namely, about Patrick Bamford. So, Wilder is not going to Leeds and Jordan is right to say it would be a bizarre move.