Chris Wilder has opened up on his Middlesbrough exit from earlier this season.

The former Sheffield United boss oversaw a poor start to the Championship season which had the club battling in the bottom part of the table.

Michael Carrick replaced the 55-year old, with the new manager having turned around the fortunes of the team at the Riverside.

But Wilder feels people should look past his poor record in his final 11 games to realise that he can still provide a lot to any potential next club.

He compared his situation to that of Eddie Howe, who was relegated with Bournemouth before going on to take charge of Newcastle United and oversee their charge towards a potential Champions League place.

The coach also claimed that the summer transfer window didn’t go as he had hoped, but that the fallout had no impact on his relationship with chairman Steve Gibson.

“At the moment, I know some people will want to judge me on the last 11 games that I managed and they will just say ‘well he lost five, drew four and only won two’ without looking into it all because it bores them,” said Wilder, via The Yorkshire Post.

"But I also know that after a while other people will start to look at my body of work again and Eddie Howe, whose last job before Newcastle ended with a relegation, is probably the best example of that now.

"The second season in the Premier League with Sheffield United became difficult and, with it being my club, I probably took on too much. 

“At Middlesbrough, the summer transfer window didn’t go the way we wanted it to.

"But I never had an issue with Steve Gibson and I’d like to think if people did their homework on me then they would find out what I’m really like. 

“It is the first time in 20 years I’ve had my contract terminated.

"I think I’d have been sacked a few more times if I was difficult to work with. 

“I want things done right and I want to win, that’s all.”

 

 

Wilder has recently been linked with a potential return to management, with Aberdeen tipped as a possible next destination.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough currently sit 3rd in the Championship table.

The Verdict

Wilder’s first few months in charge were massively promising, with the team reaching the FA Cup quarter finals as well as finishing 7th in the table.

But a disappointing summer leant itself to poor results to start the season.

It was a drastic decision to rip off the band-aid, but Boro have been vindicated by their decision to make a managerial change given how well Carrick has done.

But Wilder’s CV is still impressive and there is no doubt that he will find another role as manager soon.