Interesting debate, and similar to the split amongst Yellows about his possible departure to you boys. When Wilder came, it was a shock. Lots of big names had been touted, but we got an Ex Halifax manager who was assistant manager at Bury. It wasn't until you heard what the chairman said about Wilder and what Wilder himself said, that gave reason for optimism.
We were in the bottom half of the conference at the time. He turned things around immediately, with virtually the same team, and we went into our final game of the season with a shout of making the play offs if we won and others failed to do so. We lost!!
We started his first full season on fire and were walking the league. Things went tits up around March time and we had to contend with the play offs, beating York at Wembley to return to the league after 4 painful years.
First season back we played some fantastic football, thrashed Bristol Rovers in the league cup, but our problem was converting the numerous chances we were creating. Was a season of consolidation, with some great passing football.
Last season was a major disappointment. Despite beating our arch rivals home & away (the later for only the 2nd time, after a 38 year wait), we had a disastrous end to the season, taking only 3 points from the last seven matches. The quality of football from what I saw was not as good as we had enjoyed previously, but we had horrendous injury problems, and James Constables's form fell away badly after being sent off in the derby win at The Kassam in March.
We do NOT have one of the biggest budgets in the league, paying an horrendous rent to our former owner sees to that.
In my opinion, you could do much worse than Wilder. He is very passionate, gets his team playing decent football and we are in a much better place after nearly four years of him at the helm. Has brought some very good players to the club, the odd bollock dropped along the way. He is very respectful of the opposition, sadly,doesn't always afford the same to OUFC supporters.
I noticed someone quoting the Wise win ratio at Leeds. Think Mr Poyet being his assistant probably played a big part in that. Wouldn't want him down here.
If, as seems likely, Wilder does come to you, I wish him & the Sky Blues all the best.