A real Prince among men

THE loyalty Sheffield United’s owner Prince Abdullah has shown Chris Wilder deserves a grandstand finish to the season.

How many owners would stick with a manager when they are 18 games into a Premier League season before their first win?

Not many. In fact sticking with Wilder (below) was one of the most patient acts we’ve seen.

Abdullah flew to Sheffield from Saudi Arabia to personally tell Wilder: “We stand by you, we will not fire you.”

Despite a run of 15 defeats and two draws before that win over Newcastle.

Now Wilder’s side have rediscovered their form, their fight, and the grit that made them European contenders a year ago in their first season back in the top flight.

After beating Newcastle came wins over Manchester United and West Brom... three wins in five games.

They’re not quite in touch with fourth bottom yet. It will remain a miracle if they rise from the dead and stay up.

But a couple more wins in the next three weeks will make it game on for one of the most unlikely recoveries since Sunderland’s repeated Houdini act a few years back.

Sometimes football managers say the hardest thing when you’re a leader is to do nothing. To know you’ve got a formula that will work and to trust it, even if nothing seems to be going right.

Abdullah know’s Wilder’s best qualities, how they fit with the Blades, and he’s not let defeat after defeat drown them out. Likewise Wilder has persevered, fronted up, maintained his dignity and belief, when it would have been easier to crumble.

Of course sometimes sacking a manager is the right thing to do. The bounce a shake-up often gives a side is evidence of that.

But not in United’s case, and many a neutral will be following their revival and willing it on.