Chris Wilder says taking the Boro job is the 'right fit' for him

In what was a weekend of change for the club, Wilder, 54, has taken over the club from Neil Warnock with immediate effect following his sacking on the morning of yesterday’s 1-1 draw with West Brom. The 72-year-old took charge of the game at the Hawthorns in what was his 75th and final outing as Boro boss.

The appointment of Wilder brings a wealth of experience in the dugout along with plenty of success to match. He’s masterminded promotions from every top flight English league in charge of Oxford United, Northampton and most recently with Sheffield United.

He also led his hometown club to a record 9th place finish in the Premier League and won the LMA Manager of the Year award.

Wilder told the club website: “I think the next fit in my career was the most important one personally so I had to get it right.

“I’ve had some offers in the passed six months from various football clubs but the top and bottom of it is that it had to be right for myself. It ticks every box that I needed to be ticked from my point of view going forward.

“I thought I deserved the opportunity after what I did at Sheffield United with a great group of players, staff and supporters. From my point of view, I deserved an opportunity to work at another big club and, for me, they don’t come much bigger than Middlesbrough in the Championship.”

Wilder was in his latest post for five years at Bramall Lane where he took them from League One to the Premier League. He was sacked in March earlier this year after 14 points from 28 games.

“If you look back at my career, it’s filled with longevity and I’m planning on being here a long time.

“For that, we’ve got to do a lot of things right. We’ve got to put a structure in place for the future and we have to have an ambition. We have to have a philosophy. We’ve got to have a connection with the academy.

“Historically, it’s produced some fantastic footballers in a great passionate area.

“To reconnect with the supporters as well. Every time I’ve played up here, there’s a passion about the supporters getting behind the team and hopefully we can get going again.

“Kieran (Scott) has played a major part but there’s a long term view and vision. That’s what the owner is after, that’s what Neil (Bausor) is after and Kieran and I’m delighted to be offered an opportunity to play my part in that.”

Wilder takes over the team in 15th place in the table sitting four points outside the Championship play-off places.

Hs first game in charge of the club will be against Millwall at the Riverside on Saturday 20th November. That game will be quickly followed up by a midweek game against Preston North End three days later.