Sheffield United are expected to sack manager Paul Heckingbottom following their 5-0 defeat against Burnley on Saturday.
That result saw United drop below Burnley and Everton to 20th in the Premier League, having won only once in 14 matches. They have conceded the most (39) and scored the fewest (11) goals in the topflight this season.
It is anticipated that United will announce the news in due course. In doing so, they would become the first Premier League side to part ways with their manager this season, a stark contrast from Bournemouth’s dismissal of Scott Parker in August last year after only four games. Heckingbottom was appointed in November 2021, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The 46-year-old’s side had taken four points from two games heading into the international break, earning a first league win of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers and then a hard-fought point at Brighton & Hove Albion. But they were booed off after being outplayed by Bournemouth on November 25, with Oli McBurnie’s late header a mere consolation in a 3-1 defeat at Bramall Lane.
United then travelled to fellow strugglers Burnley but conceded in the first minute and were down to 10 men before half-time, with McBurnie receiving two yellow cards for challenging for the ball in the air. Burnley scored three more goals in the second half to inflict United’s 11th league defeat of the campaign.
United have struggled after their promotion in May, with their only other point this season coming in a 2-2 draw with Everton at the start of September.
A humiliating 8-0 defeat by Newcastle United later that month was United’s worst-ever loss at Bramall Lane. They were also beaten 5-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates in October.
