Sheffield United legend Brian Deane urges old club not to go for a "name" as new boss amid John Terry links

Wilder left his boyhood club last month after six remarkable years at the helm, and United have taken their time to appoint their new man.

Paul Heckingbottom was handed the reigns as interim manager until the end of the season while United’s hierarchy conducted due diligence on a number of their top targets, including Alexander Blessin of KV Oostende in Belgium.

Slavisa Jokanovic is also thought to be interested in discussing the vacancy as he prepares to leave his role at Qatari club Al-Gharafa, while other bosses linked with the job include Lincoln City’s Michael Appleton and Eddie Howe.

One name that has also been mentioned in connection with United is John Terry, the former Chelsea defender now in Dean Smith’s coaching set-up at Aston Villa.

But Deane, speaking to Football Fan Cast, said: “I think you need to be very careful when you start handing out these jobs, and it’s a big job, by the way.

“Sometimes I’ve seen it where, you know, owners give these big names the jobs to take the heat off themselves. They say: ‘Okay, I’ve given somebody the job. He can take that on board; he is somebody who is used to performing at the top level.’”

As The Star revealed recently, any approach for Blessin would be complicated by the fact he does not appear to meet the criteria to obtain the necessary permissions to work as a manager in England.