Sheffield United have dismissed Paul Heckingbottom and appointed former manager Chris Wilder as his replacement, confirmed by the club's owner, Prince Abdullah.
The Blades currently occupy the bottom of the Premier League with five points, having lost 11 out of their initial 14 games.
In an interview with TalkSport, Prince Abdullah stated that Wilder is "the best person on the planet to assume control of the club at this moment".
"Chris is very optimistic he can save the season," Prince Abdullah said. "He doesn't think it's easy, but he thinks it's still possible."
Heckingbottom, who took up a permanent position in November 2021, steered the club back to the top flight by securing second place in the Championship last season.
However, following Saturday's 5-0 defeat to fellow struggling Premier League side Burnley, which left them four points adrift of safety, the 46-year-old has become the first Premier League manager to be dismissed this season.
In the aftermath of that loss, Heckingbottom criticised the club for prioritising "financial decisions over football", pointing to the sale of key players during the summer.
He also expressed disappointment in some of the players at Burnley, feeling that they had "let down" United, especially as the Clarets climbed above United in the standings.
On the decision to sack Heckingbottom, Prince Abdullah said: "I felt like after the last few games it was a necessary decision. The replacement has done great things for the club and knows the club, so I feel good about the decision in one way but I really have a tremendous respect for Paul."
The Blades, who have won only once this season and have a goal difference of minus 28, host second-placed Liverpool at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.
Wilder returns to Bramall Lane
Wilder oversaw Sheffield United's ascent from League One back to the Premier League, securing two promotions within three seasons after taking charge in May 2016.
The 56-year-old, a former Blades defender, then achieved an impressive ninth-place finish in the club's first season back in the top flight after 12 years in 2019-20.
Wilder's team received praise for their playing style, registering notable victories against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
However, they couldn't replicate the same success in the subsequent season, enduring the worst start to a Premier League campaign - until Heckingbottom's side surpassed that poor start this term.
Wilder departed in March 2021 with the Blades rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, amassing 14 points from 28 games and failing to secure a victory in their initial 17 matches.
There were underlying issues between Wilder and Blades owner Prince Abdullah, with Wilder feeling that insufficient efforts were made to bolster his squad.
Following his exit from United, Wilder faced dismissal after 11 months as Middlesbrough manager in October 2022 before overseeing Watford's final 11 Championship games last season on a short-term contract.
"Chris is practically an honour of the club, he's part of Sheffield United history," Prince Abdullah said.
"One thing I always like to do, not just in football but all of my businesses, is to keep a good relationship with my ex-employees no matter how it ended. I think you should get over it," he added.
"We're all passionate about what we do and we believe Chris is the right man for the job."