On 24 May, Sheffield United were 14 minutes away from promotion to the Premier League. Just 113 days later, they are taking drastic action to avoid a Championship relegation fight.
On Sunday, the Blades sacked manager Ruben Selles after losing all six of their games so far in the 2025-26 season.
They are bottom of the Championship, below even crisis-hit rivals Sheffield Wednesday. A 5-0 loss to Ipswich on Friday means they have conceded 14 goals in those six matches, and have not scored in the league since their opening game.
It left Selles' position untenable and he was relieved of his position on Sunday morning, with the club statement saying the decision had been made following a "disappointing start" to the campaign.
To save their season, the Blades are turning to a familiar face. BBC Sport understands Chris Wilder will return to Bramall Lane for his third spell in charge, capping approximately three months of madness at the club.
"The owners appear to be admitting defeat, holding their hands up and making amends," BBC Sheffield sports editor Rob Staton said. "It's rare you see that level of humility in football.
"Wilder loves Sheffield United and will be jumping at the chance to get back in and get things going again. He knows the club better than anyone, will be able to walk back in and crack on quickly.
"It's an incredible set of events that will be all the more remarkable if he turns United's season around. There's still plenty of time left to get them up the table."
Wilder was replaced by Selles in the summer after the 57-year-old Englishman's second stint as Blades boss ended in play-off heartbreak.
A total of 92 points from 46 matches in the regular Championship season was only enough for third place last year for Wilder's United, as they finished 10 points off centurions Leeds and Burnley.
United thumped Bristol City 6-0 in the play-off semi-finals, and led Sunderland in the Wembley final until the 76th minute. But Tyrese Campbell's opener was cancelled out by Eliezer Mayenda, then in the 95th-minute Tom Watson's winner condemned the Blades to a record 10th failure to earn promotion through the play-offs.