Sheffield United striker Patrick Bamford has praised the “rare” honesty of boss Chris Wilder.
Bamford, 32, who has joined the Blades on a deal until until January, phoned Wilder to apologise after starting a derogatory chant about him during Leeds’ Premier League promotion celebrations in April.
Wilder said at the time he had “no issue” with it although the pair have previously clashed.
In 2019 Wilder called Bamford “a muppet” when Sheffield United went up ahead of Leeds.
“When the video came out of the chant it was one of those where I had had a few drinks and the next day my mum was panicking saying ‘why have you started that?'” he told BBC Radio Sheffield.
“I thought I should ring Chris and try and clear the air a bit and I remember waiting for him to answer I was thinking he was going to have a right go at me.
“He didn’t pick up but he rang me back 10 or 15 minutes later and it was refreshing because he was so nice and completely understood.
“A few years before we had had a little bit then so there was no hard feelings. He didn’t care.
“In football it’s rare you come across a manager who is as you see them. He’s straightforward and honest and for me that is super refreshing.”
One-cap England international Bamford, who left Leeds by mutual consent in August, could make his Sheffield United debut at rivals Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.
He revealed he came very close to joining Frank Lampard’s runaway league leaders Coventry before a deal fell through.
“I knew Frank from my time at Chelsea and so I went down and either way training with a team is better than training alone,” he said.
“The deal was pretty much done and then the owner, which I have no hard feelings about, decided he didn’t want to do it with the team flying.
“I spoke to Frank and he apologised and he was happy to have me there and I just said I was grateful for letting me train and get my fitness up.
“When the deal fell through Chris rang me and I spent 20 minutes on the phone with him and then came here the next day and within two hours the deal was done.”
