A coaching reshuffle at Sheffield United sees Phil Jones join the team, Micky Collins promoted to assistant, and Alan Knill depart.
On the changes to his backroom team, Wilder said, as per the club website: “After stabilising last season, we are now looking to inject some fresh ideas into the group, and a collective decision has been made to make some changes behind the scenes.
“Micky (Collins) is someone who has really impressed me since I came back to the club. He’s followed the pathway from the U21s into the first team and has proved to be a talented coach who is deserving of some increased responsibility.
“Phil (Jones) is a young coach who has played under some of the very best and is now forging his own pathway in coaching. He’s coming in tasked with helping throughout the team and he’s already gained some great experience coaching in the academy at Manchester United and with the first team at Blackburn last season. He is highly thought of at both clubs.
“Both are young and ambitious in the world of coaching and I’m looking forward to working with them.”
Of the departures, he added: “My association with Alan (Knill) goes back many years and he has been pivotal to the success we have had together. He’s not only been a brilliant coach but also a great confidant. He departs with our gratitude and best wishes for the future.
“Guilherme is a talented young coach who helped us through a tricky period when we returned last season, and I know he’ll have a bright future in the game. We also wish him well for the future.”
INTERVIEW WITH PHIL JONES (watch in full HERE):
Interviewer: Well Phil, welcome to Sheffield United. First of all, what was it about this opportunity that made you want to join the Blades?
Phil Jones: Well, I think it’s a club that’s got rich history. You know, played against them a lot of times over the years. I know exactly what they’re about, what the fans expect. And you know, speaking to Chris and the staff, it was something and a project that I was really excited about.
Interviewer: And working under Chris Weller, how much are you looking forward to that?
Phil Jones: Yeah, really looking forward to it. I’ve had some good conversations with him on how he sees the teams and how he wants to play. Yeah, the project’s there. I’m excited about it. I think we’ve got a really good squad, really good chance this season. There’ll be pressure, but we’ve got to embrace that pressure.
Interviewer: You’re playing career that’s pretty well known, but you’re coaching career. Just give us a synopsis so far. You’ve been at Manchester United in the academy and working at Blackburn Rovers in the first team last season.
Phil Jones: Yeah, I think when I finished, was always something at the forefront of my mind, what I wanted to do and stay in the game. I spent a couple of years in the academy at Man United, which was great for my learning, my development. I got the call off Michael to go in at Blackburn at the end of last season, which was really good and I really enjoyed it. So I’m really excited for this one. The staff, the players, they’re going to recruit well and I’m looking forward to it.
Interviewer: I suppose there’s no better grounding for a young coach to start a club like Manchester United, must have learnt a lot there?
Phil Jones: Yeah, definitely. The coaches were brilliant there for me in the under-18s and they allowed me to express myself and learn different things, learn different dynamics and coaching the players and stuff, you know, it’s, you know, I’m really looking forward to it. Like I said, I’m excited about the project. Chris has sold that project to me and the staff and the players and, you know, I can’t wait to get going.
Interviewer: And working at Manchester United and then getting that taste of first team coaching at Blackburn, how much does that perorate the foundation for you to take on this next challenge?
Phil Jones: Yeah, absolutely. think, you know, coaching kids and then going into a senior team is different in terms of the messages, in terms of how you coach and how you deliver, but it’s something that I’m learning and adapting and developing at the same time, but this is certainly a club that I want to do that.
Interviewer: And Micky Collins is moving up to assistant manager, two young coaches that Chris is showing a lot of faith in at the moment.
Phil Jones: Yeah, Micky, I know Micky, great lad. He was on a pro license, so I got to know Micky over the last couple of years, spoke really well, spoke really highly of the club. So I always knew in the back of my mind what sort of club it was like behind the scenes. So, yeah, great lad.
Interviewer: I’m guessing now just final preparations with the players coming back in a couple of weeks time for what’s going to be a busy pre-season?
Phil Jones: Yeah, you know, looking forward to getting back, looking forward to seeing the players. It’ll be a busy pre-season, as you mentioned. I think there’s five or six games, some really good games coming up and ultimately be ready for the start of season where we need to make an impact from day one.”
Micky Collins said, what his interview in full HERE: “It is a great opportunity for me at a massive club and for my progression it is the next step. I’ve worked at the club for a good few years now and understand it inside and outside and I’m really looking forward to it.
“It is kind of full circle for me having had an experience as a manager, when I was younger and just finished playing. I wasn’t ready for that looking back now and I can hold my hands up and accept that.
“Off the back of that, I made a conscience effort to upskill myself in as many different areas as I could. I’ve done different roles within the game, I’ve done individual work, group work and teamwork all the way back up to leading a team and back into the first-team scene.
“I feel it has come at the right time in my development, I feel ready for it. This isn’t a free hit, I’m here to do a job. This is a big club and there is a lot of expectation on us and I’m well of that, so it is one thing getting this role, the next thing is nailing it.
“I was well aware as a player that I wanted to go into coaching and I knew I’d have to start it young, so I’ve been working in the background probably since the age of 24 or 25.
“This has been over 15 years’ worth of work to get to this situation, and I feel comfortable stepping into the position and repaying the faith Chris has obviously shown in me.”
