Ex-Middlesbrough manager Chris Wilder on Sheffield United return

And after "frank and honest discussions", the former Middlesbrough boss says he couldn't turn down the opportunity to return to Bramall Lane for a third stint, with the Blades in an all together different position to what they were last season.

Wilder's side finished third in the Championship last season and were 14 minutes away from winning promotion until Sunderland's late show at Wembley.

The 57-year-old then lost his job and was replaced by former Hull head coach Ruben Selles.

But that appointment turned out to be a disaster, and Selles was sacked at the weekend after a 5-0 hammering at Ipswich, United's fifth successive defeat.

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And United's American owners COH Sports then turned to the manager they sacked less than three months ago.

Asked directly whether he would have turned down any other club in that situation, Wilder said: “Possibly, yeah. This is a special club for me, as you know, a unique club for me so I possibly would say yes to that.”

“We had frank and honest discussions. I was delighted to get that opportunity. I thought it speaks volumes about the owners.

“There’s been a lot of talk and I knew the narrative of me returning to help the football club, but I think it shows you what they’re about as human beings.

“I was disappointed (in the summer), of course I was going to be, but I respect it. There was no fall-out, the decision was made. I respected it and accepted it and wished the club all the best and there’s been an ongoing relationship with the ownership and investors.”

Wilder’s United amassed 92 points from 46 games last season, deducted two for previous payment defaults, but could not keep pace with Leeds and Burnley.

Despite the miserable start to this campaign, Wilder said the top six and promotion is very much within their grasp, indicating he was impressed by United’s summer signings despite controversy over the club’s use of artificial intelligence in their recruitment.

“This is a strong group of players that I believe if led right and given the right processes (can get) back to the culture of what has made us a decent side over a number of years,” he said.

“It’s certainly not a broken changing room in terms of spirit. They’re just a little bit broken in terms of the identity of the football club, of the football team, at the moment.”

Wilder said he spoke to a number of clubs about job openings in the summer and “got pretty close to a couple” before jumping at the chance to return to Bramall Lane, and his enthusiasm to be back was apparent in a press conference on Tuesday that lasted over an hour.

“I’m not done yet,” he said. “I want to work, I want to succeed. My hunger and desire personally is as big as it’s ever been.”

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