Sheffield United’s new coach draws on past struggles to steady the ship
Sheffield United’s coaching staff has gained a fresh voice this pre-season after Phil Jones joined Chris Wilder’s backroom team, bringing first-hand experience of navigating club instability. Jones, who arrived from Blackburn Rovers in the close season, admitted on Thursday that his stints at Ewood Park and Manchester United under the Glazers had prepared him for the challenges now facing the Blades.
Why Jones is already battle-hardened
Jones left Manchester United in 2023 after a decade at Old Trafford, then spent two years at Blackburn Rovers where he saw owners change and financial pressure up close. “No, I’m very well aware of the situations and problems that arise within football clubs,” Jones told The Star on Thursday. “So it’s no surprise. But the club will deal with everything in good order and do things properly, as they should.” His comments came as United’s co-owners’ company faces a winding-up petition over alleged unpaid debts linked to the club’s purchase in 2023.
What happens next for the Blades
Jones is in Spain with the first-team squad this week, preparing for his first full pre-season as a senior coach. He sees the next fortnight as vital for bonding with players and fellow staff. “I’m looking forward to understanding the players individually a bit more and having a bit more time with them,” he said. “Off the pitch as well-how the players are, getting to know them better-matters just as much to me as a coach.” United open their Championship campaign on 9 August away to Middlesbrough.
The message Wilder’s men will take into August
Jones stressed that every session counts, even friendlies. “The message has been the same to the lads: pre-season game or not, you go out on the pitch and you look to win the game of football, first and foremost,” he said. With Wilder’s side already under scrutiny over ownership issues, Jones’s arrival is one more variable in a summer of flux for the Bramall Lane side.
