As the end of the season approaches, Sheffield United will be trying to push their way into the Championship play-offs.

Wilder has led an incredible turnaround to lift the Blades out of the relegation zone, and speculation of a play-off push has grown at Bramall Lane in recent weeks, particularly following the January arrivals of Ki-Jana Hoever, Leo Hjelde, Kalvin Phillips, and Joe Rothwell.

However, it remains to be seen whether reaching the top six will be too much for United, as their 2-1 home loss to league leaders Middlesbrough on Monday night left Wilder’s side 16th in the table, eight points behind the play-offs.

Given that Wilder was fired last summer despite taking the Blades to the play-off final, some have speculated that missing out on promotion this season could put his position in jeopardy once more, but a recent contract revelation may have provided an insight into his future.

Chris Wilder offers Sheffield United’s contract update involving Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks.

After favoring experienced players for all of his managerial career, Wilder has showed a greater willingness to give youth a chance in recent years, with academy products Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks playing crucial roles in Sheffield United’s comeback this season.

It appears that the pair’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with Seriki apparently on Everton’s radar in the January transfer window and Brooks rumored to be a target for Belgian top division club Club Brugge.

The Blades have kept Seriki and Brooks, but they are nearing the end of their present contracts at Bramall Lane. Wilder has stated that the club is trying to sign new contracts with both.”I have not spoken with Steve [Bettis] about it since last month, but it will be an ongoing situation,” Wilder told The Star.We had to prepare for Ipswich, Millwall, and Tuesday night’s game against Oxford, while also focusing on the transfer window.Of course, we are now moving on. Moving on to other facets of player acquisition and retention is critical. The key is to protect the asset that the player has improved, but we must also.”

Of course, guaranteeing the future of major assets is critical for United regardless of who is in charge, but Wilder’s apparent involvement in contract decisions implies he is firmly seen as a part of the club’s long-term strategy.

COH Sports must not repeat the massive Chris Wilder and Sheffield United mistakes this summer.

Wilder’s return to Sheffield United just five games into the season suggests that the club’s board believed he still had plenty of time to mount a promotion drive.

The ambitious signings of Hoever, Hjelde, Phillips, and Rothwell in January show that the Blades’ hierarchy believes promotion is possible this season, and if Wilder fails to deliver a Premier League return, or at least a top six finish, he may have some questions to answer.

Wilder was fired last summer despite his team accumulating 90 points during the regular season, which is the joint-highest total not to result in automatic promotion in Championship history, and United were only 15 minutes away from defeating Sunderland in the play-off final before an agonising late collapse at Wembley.

If Wilder lost his job in those circumstances, COH Sports may not hesitate to part ways with him again this summer, especially if United finishes anywhere near their current 16th place, but the fact that he is involved in long-term planning suggests that he will retain the board’s trust, regardless of the outcome of this season.

After taking over with the club sitting bottom of the table with zero points in September, Wilder should not be judged if the Blades miss out on promotion, and the fact that his side is even in the play-off conversation after such a disastrous start is a big tribute to the 58-year-old.

With James Bord, who is thought to have played a role in Selles’ appointment, no longer acting as an advisor to COH Sports, Wilder’s position has undoubtedly been strengthened, and after demonstrating his pulling power in January, he should be given full control over transfers this summer.

It could be an exciting few months for United as they attempt to break into the top six, but even if they fail, no fan will cry for Wilder’s departure.