My future is uncertain, admits Cats target Wilder

Chris Wilder says he doesn’t know what the future holds as he continues to be linked with the Sunderland manager’s job.

Sheffield United boss Wilder is the bookies’ favourite to replace Chris Coleman once Stewart Donald’s international consortium take control of the club.

Wilder is well-known to Donald for his work at Oxford United, and his future is uncertain after he expressed his concerns over a boardroom battle at Bramall Lane.

Wilder revealed last week that he could walk away from the club he led to the League One title last season, if the ownership issue at the Blades isn’t resolved.

That has put Donald on red alert, and Wilder did little to dampen the speculation ahead of United’s clash with Bristol City tomorrow.

While insisting Sunderland had not made an approach for his services, Wilder said: “There will always be speculation.

“I can’t do anything about speculation. What I can is try to get clarity for my football club.

“I’ve not thought about this being my last game. The club might get taken over tomorrow and whoever does it might want to bring their own guy in.

“We all have choices and options. I don’t know what the future holds.

“You can’t in football. I had it as a player and I’ve had it as a manager.”

Wilder remains the favourite with bookmakers, with Michael Appleton and Jaap Stam both seeing their odds shorten yesterday.

Donald, meanwhile, is believed to have moved a step closer to completing his deal for Sunderland after the BBC reported that he had agreed the sale of non-league side Eastleigh.

Donald is still waiting on EFL ratification of his takeover, with one of the obstacles having been his ownership of the National League outfit.