Chris Wilder Reflects Positively on Oxford United Tenure

Ahead of his Sheffield United team’s match against Oxford United on Tuesday, manager Chris Wilder has expressed his positive recollections of his tenure with the U’s. Wilder’s period at the Kassam Stadium spanned over five years, during which he guided the club back into the Football League after securing a 3-1 victory against York City at Wembley in the 2010 Conference Premier play-off final. His departure in January 2014, however, occurred under unusual conditions, as he chose to leave the U’s while they occupied a League Two play-off spot to join Northampton Town, a rival team then situated at the bottom of the table. Furthermore, his exit was marked by considerable uncertainty; Wilder initially refuted former club chairman Ian Lenagan’s assertions that he had resigned following an approach from the Cobblers, only to officially resign a day later. “I would say 90% of it was really good,” Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield. “I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I got given to me by the chairman Kelvin Thomas at the time and the great people that I met along the way. “The late Micky Lewis, his wife and boys coming to the game, they were a big part of the journey.” Two years subsequently, Wilder achieved promotion with Northampton before transitioning to Sheffield United for his initial period with that club. Nevertheless, his tenure in Oxfordshire continues to be a significant and impactful phase in his professional journey. “Jim Smith was a director there as well so fabulous experience for me to learn, as a young manager, from an absolute great and Jim Rosenthal as well who was a director at the time, so fabulous people,” Wilder added. “I still speak to Jim Rosenthal every other week and I still speak to the chairman every other week – fabulous times.”It didn’t end in a great way, unfortunately, but I’d like to think that people will look back at then as a decent time for us.”I’d like to think we all enjoyed one of the best days of my managerial career – a win at Wembley – first time to win at Wembley and in front of 50,000 supporters and 35,000 from Oxford was an incredible experience and one that I look back fondly on.”