Chris Wilder set to leave Newcastle United's Premier League relegation rivals Sheffield United - reports

The 53-year-old has been in charge at Bramall Lane for five years having taken his boyhood club from League One to the Premier League.

After challenging for Europe last season, the Blades’ form has slumped dramatically this season, leaving Wilder’s side bottom of the table, 12 points from safety with 10 games to go.

With their struggles on their pitch apparent, tension has also been building behind the scenes between Wilder and the Blades’ hierarchy.

It is claimed HRH Prince Abdullah bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the club’s owner, wants to appoint a director of football.

And according to reports, the former Northampton Town boss is poised to leave his role today.

Sheffield United had been scheduled to hold the first part of their pre-match media conference ahead of Sunday’s visit to Leicester City this morning, with Wilder set to face journalists via Zoom after lunch.

However, the club confirmed a player would not be appearing for interview as planned, suggesting something was going on behind the scenes.

Former Barnsley and Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom is set to take charge of the first-team until further notice, as per talkSPORT.

Newcastle welcome Sheffield United to St James’s Park on May 15 – their penultimate game of the top-flight season.

The Blades, who have won just four league games so far, beat the Magpies at Bramall Lane in January after Billy Sharp’s second-half penalty.