Heckingbottom is the first Premier League managerial casualty this term, although Wolverhampton Wanderers parted ways with Julen Lopetegui three days before the start of the season.

“Yes (I have made the decision),” Prince Abdullah told Talk Sport.

“Chris has done great things for the club and in my opinion he’s the best guy on planet earth to take over the club right now in these circumstances.”

United are bottom of the table with just one win all season and have five points from 14 matches.

They were handed an embarrassing 8-0 home thrashing by Newcastle United in September while lowly Burnley beat them 5-0 at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Wilder managed the club between 2016 and 2021, when he resigned with the club bottom of the Premier League, with Heckingbottom taking over as interim manager for the final 10 matches of their relegation season.

Also a former player at the club, Wilder won two promotions in his first three seasons as manager at United, taking them from League One to the Premier League.

“Chris is practically an honour of the club, he’s part of Sheffield United history,” Prince Abdullah added.

“One thing I always like to do, not just in football but all of my businesses, is to keep a good relationship with my ex-employees no matter how it ended, I think you should get over it.”

Sheffield United will host Liverpool on Wednesday.