Chris Wilder will return for his second spell as manager of Sheffield United after the club sacked Paul Heckingbottom, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Blades are bottom of the Premier League with just five points after losing 11 of their opening 14 games.
The club's Saudi Arabian owner Prince Abdullah decided to call time on Heckingbottom's spell in the wake of their 5-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.
The Blades were Sheffield-born Wilder's boyhood club and he went on to play for them in two spells and then manage them between 2016 and 2021.
He said on Tuesday after being handed an 18-month contract: "Quite simply, it was an opportunity which I just couldn't turn down. Just like in 2016, when this club comes calling, it is not something you pass up.
"This is Sheffield United, it is my team and I am thrilled to be back. We find ourselves in a difficult position, I understand that, but I think I can make a difference.
"When I received the call from Stephen [Bettis, the club's chief executive] asking if I would consider coming back to try to help, I didn't have to think about it. People know what this club means to me, and the task now is to try to provide a boost to improve our current situation.
"My relationship with [club owner] Prince Abdullah and the board was repaired a long time ago. After some time passed following my initial departure, we spoke, met in person and there was an amicable ending. Now, coming back as manager, to know there is a united front again is crucial as we look to work together to improve the club's position in the Premier League."
He will be assisted by Alan Knill, Matt Prestridge and former Republic of Ireland international Keith Andrews, with all set to be in the dugout for Wednesday's game against Liverpool.
Speaking on the UK's TalkSPORT Radio, Prince Abdullah on Tuesday explained his decision to bring Wilder back in.
"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 is very optimistic he can save the season. He doesn't think it's easy, but he thinks it's still possible," he said.
"Chris is part of Sheffield United history. Chris has done great things for the club and, in my opinion, he's the best guy on the planet to take over the club right now in these circumstances."
On the decision to remove Heckingbottom, the Prince said: "I have mixed emotions about letting Paul go. I have a lot of respect for Paul and everything he did for the club, he's a very classy guy.
"But I felt like after the last few games it was a necessary decision and the replacement has done great things for the club and knows the club."
Heckingbottom, who initially replaced Wilder as interim manager in March 2021 before being handed the role on a permanent basis that November, guided the club back to the top flight after they finished second in the Championship last season.
Blades chief executive Bettis said of the decision to let Heckingbottom go: "Firstly, on behalf of the board of directors, I'd like to thank Paul for all of his efforts at Sheffield United, firstly as Under-23s manager before stepping up to take control of first-team duties.
"His professionalism and dedication have been a credit to the club and I'm sure all Unitedites enjoyed the promotion-winning campaign. However, after slipping to the bottom of the table and a number of disappointing results and performances, it is felt that a change is needed to give the club a boost and every possible chance of remaining in the Premier League."
Blades owner Prince Abdullah came in for criticism over the summer sales of two of the stars of their promotion campaign, Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye.
On Tuesday, he said: "If I was an owner looking only at my interests, I would not have sold the two players.
"We were negotiating with more than one party to sell the club. The club is worth much more in the Premier League than relegated.
"We all knew that if we kept Iliman and Berge, we would have a better chance of staying in the Premier League and getting a better price, but I looked at the long-term interests of the club.
"We came to the decision that with one year left on their contracts, we couldn't keep those players and lose the club a lot of money. Everything we do is for the benefit of the club. We have not taken money out of the club."
On bringing in players in the January transfer window, the Prince said: "We will look at where we are in the table and what we can do. It's very early to talk about that but I can assure you of one thing: me and Chris are on the same page when it comes to January and after January."
Wilder first took over at Bramall Lane in 2016 with the club wallowing in the third tier. He won promotion back to the Championship that season and then took them up again as they reached the Premier League in 2019. The following season the club finished ninth in the top flight, their highest finish since 1992.
He left after a difficult 2020/21 campaign and has been out of work following short stints at Watford and Middlesbrough.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
SPECS
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
