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Warnock at Wednesday - don't make me laugh

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Paul Fletcher | 13:19 UK time, Tuesday, 5 January 2010

Like Arsene Wenger taking over at Tottenham or Sir Alex Ferguson moving to Manchester City, is as absurd as it is unlikely.

Warnock, of course, is a life-long Sheffield United supporter who enjoys nothing more than baiting the Blades' cross-city rivals.

The 61-year-old once quipped that if he was ever manager of Wednesday he would try to engineer their relegation.

"I would buy some bad players, get the sack and then retire to Cornwall," said the Sheffield-born Warnock.

The counter argument would suggest that Harry Redknapp went from Portsmouth to Southampton and back again, while George Graham took over at Tottenham having managed Arsenal earlier in his career.

In other words, logic and reason often count for little in modern football and what seems ludicrous can quickly become reality.

It could also be said that the belligerent, bellicose and fiercely competitive Warnock is exactly what the Owls need right now as they look to improve on their perilous standing of .

Neil WarnockWarnock laughs after hearing he has been linked with Sheffield Wednesday

Have a look on the Wednesday 606 messageboard and you might see a surprising number of fans suggesting that even if it goes against the grain, it is an appointment that would make sense.

Wednesday, remember, are and dropping into League One is most definitely not part of the plan.

Warnock, who and led them into the Premier League, is currently doing an excellent job under severe financial restraints at Crystal Palace.

The Eagles are ninth in the Championship, three points shy of the play-off zone, despite the fact that the chairman recently had to take drastic action to appease the club's major creditor and where .

With so many problems at Selhurst Park it might not be a bad time for Warnock to seek employment elsewhere.

A man who has had more spats, rows and personal feuds than just about anyone in football, certainly fanned the flames when : "Would me taking over at Wednesday be a possibility? Of course it's a possibility, why not?

"A job's a job and if you need a job you need a job."

That said, it is not going to happen.

I spoke to one former Wednesday manager on Tuesday morning. He thought the whole story was one big wind-up by the mischievous Warnock.

I also spoke to a source close to Owls chairman Lee Strafford who told me the Wednesday chief had no intention of appointing Warnock.
Incidentally, he was apparently equally perplexed by rumours on Monday .

It is also extremely unlikely that Warnock would take the role even if it was offered to him.

He is close friends with Palace chairman Simon Jordan and suggested when that it would be his final managerial role before retirement.

What is for certain is that there is an increasing sense of urgency at Hillsborough.

When , the club were prepared to take their time to ensure they found the right man.

With academy boss Sean McAuley in temporary charge, the key men at Wednesday felt the search for a new boss could take place alongside negotiations with potential new investors.

It all went a touch quiet on the investment front over Christmas, but it is thought that now that we are into the new year further negotiations are planned with one particularly interested party.

On the pitch, Wednesday have lost two and drawn one since Laws left - and the feeling now is that the Owls need an external shock, someone to come in and shake things up before the situation becomes critical.

The attendance of 8,690 for the third-round tie against Palace on Saturday tells you exactly what the supporters make of the attraction of watching their club at the moment.

Incidentally, - a game which must have made for delicious viewing for Warnock as he watched from the touchlines.

Just don't expect to see him in the home dugout at Hillsborough anytime soon.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    The new Derek Dooley? I don't think so. Having said that I would take Laurel and hardy if they could keep us in this league right now.

    UTO

  • Comment number 2.

    I think Warncock is a great manager, and a great man. For that reason alone he would not join Wednesday.

    I think we could see Peter Taylor at the helm of Wednesday. Might be worth a punt at 25/1.

  • Comment number 3.

    Anyone who gave Warnock a job at Hillsborough after his previously well documented comments about taking us down would
    A) Need their head looking at, and
    B) Be signing their own death warrant as a chairman!

    The job we need doing right now is one of a motivator - we have the players to do the job, after all they were doing it at the beginning of the season.

    A short term appointment might make sense - Paul Sturrock has been mentioned and I think that he could be the man to steady the ship whilst we search for the long term replacement.

    Remember that day in Cardiff and "Who needs Mourinho, we've got Paul Sturrocko!!!" He would walk from Plymouth if we offered the job, even in this snow! He said when he left that someone would be a hero at Hillsborough one day by taking us back up where we belong - what we need now is a firm & steady hand to keep us in this league and give foundations for the next man to be that hero.

    Sturrock is that man!

  • Comment number 4.

    I am one of the minority of Wednesday fans who actually quite likes Warnock. In today's game it is rare to see a manager who is also a fan of his team and when Neil was in the Premier League with United and getting bad press for his post match complaints about referees, luck etc - I, unlike many, sympathised with him for the very reason it was akin to interviewing a supporter post defeat. Having said that, as you rightly say, there is no way that Warnock would take the helm at Hillsborough.

    Just out of interest Paul, who do you think are realistic candidates for the Wednesday post, and which of these do you think would succeed?

    I wanted Dan Petrescu before he was appointed by a second division Russian side recently so have now extended my hopes to one of Alan Irvine (formerly of Preston), John Collins (formerly of Hibs) or Roland Nilsson (Currently at Malmo). Conversely, I would hate to see any of Gary Megson, Nigel Worthington or Darren Ferguson take the job.

  • Comment number 5.

    just a thought....if Warnock did take over Wednesday, what would if have to lose? If he gets us relegated he becomes a United legend, if he keeps us up and does well, he becomes a Wednesday favourite. Not a bad position to be in.

  • Comment number 6.

    Warnock as manager of the senior club in Sheffield? Who's havin a laugh?
    I have it on very good authority that Darren Ferguson is about to take up the helm at Hillsborough.

  • Comment number 7.

    A Wednesday-supporting colleague of mine informs me that at one point in the mid-to-late 1990s there was a body of opinion in favour of appointing one-time Blades boss Dave Bassett. Others, apparently, were very much against the idea.....

    History repeating?

    1867_waddle - I'm not sure that any definitive decisions have been made as yet. Certainly Wednesday would represent another step up for Ferguson.

    However, with regard to wednesdaymorgs (post 4) - I would opt for Alan Irvine. I thought Preston were very hasty to sack him and rate him as an excellent manager. He was thorough, professional and had a good record at PNE, who should have given him more time to turn the situation around.

    Both West Brom and Reading wanted to talk to him last summer and although North End were in a slump prior to his departure, I think he would be a sound option.


  • Comment number 8.

    Warnock would be a nightmare appointment. Ideally it would be one of Alan Irvine, Darren Ferguson or Gary *shudder at the thought of the standard of football* Megson. Realistically, we've messed around so long now it can only be sorting out terms with the Northern Irish FA for Nigel Worthington. What joy...

  • Comment number 9.

    Paul you say that Wednesday would be a step up for Darren Ferguson but, surely with a little help from his Father he can make that step up?

    I feel Darren Ferguson is a very talented manager and he must be able to use his Father to the maximum, when it comes to contacts and signing players. He was simply a victim of his own success at Peterborough and I feel it was a little harsh to sack him. He'd be a good manager for Wednesday.

    I like Sheffield Wednesday and I hope they arn't left with a boring manager like Gary Megson or Nigel Worthington, their fans deserve someone better than them.

  • Comment number 10.

    As a Palace supporter, the idea of Neil Warnock coming anywhere near my club back in 2007 was one of hatred and disdain. I have had to eat many humble pies since then!

    He has moved his family down to Kent, he has shown us the kind of desire to succeed which has been missing from a long line of previous managers (under Simon Jordan, that is quite a list) since Steve Bruce.

    NW is possibly (Billy Davies not withstanding) the best manager in this division in terms of record and the fact he has done all of this on virtually no budget, has to be commended.


    If he was to leave Palace now, the club would go into meltdown. He is the glue holding it all together and I think he knows that we do have the conveyor belt of talent running at full pelt now, so buying players is not necessarily going to be an issue. Selling is, but then again, when has he not been in this position?

    If the rumours are to be believed, Wednesday are just behind us in the debt stakes and for that reason, he would be jumping from one medium sized frying pan into one which not only will he be the most unpopular appointment since Brian Clough at Leeds, he will face similar constraints, but without the excellent youth system. Think of the abuse that Megson got at Bolton then multiply it by 100. That is what Warnock will get.

    He will follow through on his desire to stay at Palace until his retirement. I believe that as despite the constant bleating of his love for Sheffield United, he has not put a foot wrong since coming to us.

    The whole Wednesday situation could have been avoided, had Laws stayed on. I do not think that they will be relegated had they kept him, but it just goes to show that the Chairman and board did not think of the near future when sacking him. A manager who has had time in the job to know the players, will be the best judge of playing the transfer market. Thanks to the board, this wont happen now as the next manager will have no time to assess the squad for adequate replacements. It will be loans only as January will soon be over by the time an appointment is made.

    That decision alone could condemn Wednesday and the fans would be right to be upset.

  • Comment number 11.

    "And the feeling now is that the Owls need an external shock, someone to come in and shake things up before the situation becomes critical."

    Martin Allen anyone?

  • Comment number 12.

    Simon (post 10) - a series of really excellent points. Davies and Warnock are both very feisty characters. I look forward to the day when they have a touchline spat. That really would be compulsive viewing.

    I like the way you mention 'Megson' as some kind of watchword for unpopularity. I wonder how he would go down with the fans at Wednesday?

    Kill_Bill_Vol_2 - external shock, not nuclear meltdown!

  • Comment number 13.

    Why are Wednesday fans so against Worthington as manager?

    I'm a Norwich fan and I really appreciate everything he did for us, especially considering where we are now.

    He saved us from relegation in his first season, took us to within 15 minutes of the Premiership in his second at the play off final, then 2 years later we were runaway champions playing some of the most attacking football I can remember (mostly lining up as an attacking 4-4-2 or in a 4-3-3 formation, hardly dull football).

    Yes we didn't survive in the Premiership but he's a very good championship manager, NO-ONE you will get in that division will have a perfect, unblemished record. Ironically ff any championship manager did have that then they wouldn't be managing in the Championship, if you catch my drift.

    I don't particularly care about who Wednesday do get clearly but you could do a lot worse than Nigel Worthington.

  • Comment number 14.

    While the view of post 8 might not be shared by all Wednesdayites:

    8. At 4:05pm on 05 Jan 2010, Sir T. Fireball wrote:
    Warnock would be a nightmare appointment. Ideally it would be one of Alan Irvine, Darren Ferguson or Gary *shudder at the thought of the standard of football* Megson.

    I know that Megson played for Wednesday (not a bad player either if I remember correctly, always one you did not want to come up against) I do think that people compartmentalise people into being players and managers separately and not think that being good at one begats the other.


    We at Palace have had a number of disappointments in that regard - Peter Taylor being one who will always be remember for being a player, not as a manager as he did nothing during his tenure with us. Steve Kember will be another one as being remembered as being a fantastic servant, but his managerial time will be put to one side. He was one of the "Mr Crystal Palace"s who will always command respect.

    Back to Wednesday - Megson is only being linked due to the playing career. But, he will have no money at all to spend and that could be a reason for him not going there.

    People like Martin Allen,Joe Kinnear or Iain Dowie, using management techniques to get the best out of what they have, might be one way - but that only gets you so far.

    Darren Ferguson has been hardly given a chance at managing in the Championship - very little in the "experienced head" required to get SWFC about of the trouble they are in.

    I think that Paul Sturrock might be a good shout, on the short term basis to get Wednesday through the difficult remainder of the season. Let us not forget that he has a battle to fight also with his health.

    Alan Irvine has been around this division for a while and turned Preston around, he could be the best appointment. I fear that managers like Gareth Southgate wont want it, due to the free hand he had a Boro unlikely to be repeated anywhere else.

    Only one choice in my view - Irvine was removed also unnecessarily, so anyone getting him could pull off a real coup.

  • Comment number 15.

    Personally, I think Wednesday are in a very sensitive stage of the investment process. It's make or break time as to whether this set of investors will finally come through as a possibility.

    As a result, the decision on the next manager is probably being delayed.

    Wednesday can't afford to appoint someone and then replace them six months later if the new owners want to appoint someone new.

  • Comment number 16.

    I'm not at all sure about the idea of Paul Sturrock. He was a popular figure at Plymouth but results dictated he should no longer continue in charge of first-team affairs.

    I am not sure he will manage at Championship level again, especially as he has health problems (Sturrock has Parkinson's disease - something he has been very public, honest and up-front about). In some ways I hope that I am proved wrong on this front.

    The subject of Nigel Worthington is very interesting - surely a very popular figure at Wednesday during his playing days. He has thrown his hat into the ring - but do the Owls supporters want him?



  • Comment number 17.

    I personally dislike Warnock very much, him Sam Allardyce and Fergie are the 3 biggest idiots in football, at least Fergie has a good record to back him up when he comes out with ridiculous comments but Warnock and Allardyce most certainly do not.

  • Comment number 18.

    I am hearing that Darren Ferguson has been interviewed by both Preston and Wednesday. However, he has yet to make a decision one way or the other. There will be more on this on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ website in due course.

  • Comment number 19.

    If you were Darren Ferguson where would you go fletch? I personally would choose Preston, they haven't got a bad team but Wednesday seem to be a team in decline.

  • Comment number 20.

    As a Wednesday fan who always had a grudging admiration of him whilst at United I would love to see Colin, errrr Warnock, in charge.

    So many Wednesday fans seem to be saying that they would never go to S6 again if he became boss.....they probably said the same about Big Fat Ron before he came back. But results change people's perspectives and Warnock I think would get them.

    But whilst we do need an early appointment please, for God's sake, let's not go down the "old Wednesday player" road. The last 25 years of management at Hillsborough is littered with the names of former great players who have proved to be crap managers. Megson, Worthington et al......no!

  • Comment number 21.

    How about one of the better managers in the lower leagues ? Boothroyd I rate very highly and Clark is doing a excellent job at Huddersfield. I think Boothroyd may be reluctant to jump ship so soon but he's a class manger well worth a mention and Clark, admitedly with strong financial backing, has brought Huddersfield a long way. (as a Saints fan I would love to see him out of our league). For something of a long shot how about Gannon ? He did a good job on a shoestring budget at Stockport and may be a good candidate for Wednesday. (even if the motherwell debacle has dented his reputation a little). Especially with his knowledge of the lower leagues giving him a headstart in bringing in a few reinforcements with January speeding by.

  • Comment number 22.

    Just look what life-long Gashead Tony Pulis did to Bristol City. A daft idea.

  • Comment number 23.

    Do Wednesday Supporters want Worthington?
    ( the joke of Warnock is finished I think now)

    Depends of course who you ask, I can only give my opinion:
    NO WAY
    It's always the same with ex-players: oh yes, they "love the club" - well so do I !! and had a great time there, and would love the opportunity, ....bla bla bla.
    Does that make them a good manager though?

    Look at all the failures of ex-players - loads of them, including top players like Keegan, Bremner, Souness, Robson, Hoddle, ..........

    In fact it would be an interesting blog research theme to actually find an ex-player who has gone back to his ( major club ) and been a successful manager over say 5 years?

    I would go for two candidates:
    Steve Coppel: just proven, simple as that.
    Darren Ferguson: not so proven, but surely he could get his Dad to give us some good loans ahead of other clubs.

    It's crucial though, whatever.


  • Comment number 24.

    To Simon Post #8
    "The whole situation could have been avoided if Laws had stayed on"

    Simon, please, but you have, as you say as a Palace fan , obviously not been at Hillsborough and followed the team selection and substitutions, the loan policy and the post-game press comments etc of Mr. Laws recently.
    There is enough there to justify he not being our manager anymore by miles.
    Sad for him ,he did some good things previously , but had to take the blame recently.
    One momentous mistake was to sell Richard Wood for peanuts and replace him with Darren Purse, an ageing, simply poor player, who has been personally responsible for up to 10-12 points already this season due to awful mistakes and terrible defending techniques. No one in my clique ever understood that transfer and never will.


    Up the Owls

  • Comment number 25.

    What next week. Fergie to Liverpool - stop pulling my leg

  • Comment number 26.

    Is this site really as bad as the other chatboards?

    Quote (post6) "I have it on very good authority that Darren Ferguson is about to take up the helm at Hillsborough."
    More useless speculation that does nothing to further the cause of a football team in dire straits!
    Trust in LS
    UTO

  • Comment number 27.

    Dortmund... I can give you a few, but I will give you one - George Graham. He was part of the Double winning Arsenal side of 1971 and he won all the English domestic honours as manager of Arsenal, along with the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1994, between 1986-95 (The period of years may be wrong!)

  • Comment number 28.

    Dortmund: I'll say Bremner performed better as a manager at his old team than he would have elsewhere. He got Leeds to the play-off final and the semis of the FA Cup, but didn't really do anything at Doncaster.

  • Comment number 29.

    Making analogies to Redknapp with Saints & Pompey, and Graham with Arse & Spurs is a bit wide of the mark.

    Redknapp never grew up in Portsmouth, as a Pompey fan. Graham did not grow up in North London, nor (I doubt) support either team. Yes he played for the Arse, but he also played for MUFC (and Chelsea I think?).

    Warnock is Sheff Utd born and bred. He grew up a Blade. Emotionally that's an enormous pull, and although I wouldn't rule it out, one of the reasons I like Warnock is that he still thinks (and acts sometimes) like a fan, for good and bad - it's not just a job for him.

  • Comment number 30.

    'Ferguson has been interviewed by both Wednesday and Preston' - hope he goes to North End. Those who say he can just get a few loan signings from his dad to help us out - because he did that so much at Peterborough??!! No, Darren Ferguson has a relatively easy ride with Peterborough. A team that were able to dismiss a 1m+ bid for Aaron McLean when they were in League Two, he had relatively ample finances at his disposal. The Championship was his first major test where he came up against teams with bigger budgets for the first time - he failed. His target this season was at the very least to keep Peterborough in the Championship - when he was sacked, he was failing. How are these credentials that are worthy of naming him Sheffield Wednesday manager?!

    Someone above mentioned up and coming managers - Lee Clark would be someone I hope we are considering at the very least. As said, I doubt Boothroyd would jump ship so soon after being apointed at Colchester but other names to consider would certainly be Paul Tisdale and Keith Hill (although I think it would be a step too soon for both managers) and the omission of Eddie Howe is simply because I do not think he would come.

  • Comment number 31.

    Dortmund Owl

    Here is a name for you : Howard Kendall - won the FA Cup with Everton in 1966 and won trophies while as a manager.

    One name, I grant you, but I do not consider the players you mentioned as managers complete failures....moderately successful is what I think they are - maybe they did not fulfill thier brief but I would not call them failures. By that maxim 90% of managers are failures - no-one can win all the time.

    If Laws was not up to the task, the board should have been looking around for someone else to bring in, before sacking Laws. I am not sure what was the catalyst for Richard Wood leaving, but I am sure that there is more to it than I or most of the viewing public are aware. The board have made this situation harder than it needs to be.

    Steve Coppell is a great shout though. "Sir" is a Championship legend after his work with Reading and Palace, he could do a job for sure.

  • Comment number 32.

    16. "The subject of Nigel Worthington is very interesting - surely a very popular figure at Wednesday during his playing days. He has thrown his hat into the ring - but do the Owls supporters want him?"

    _______________________________________________________________

    He's thrown his hat into the ring during negotiations with the Northern Irish FA. I expect to see him continue there. That said, I'd like to see him back at Wednesday, although I'm not sure he is the man we need to shake things up at the moment.

    It would just be nice to get excited about a managerial appointment or even signing. I haven't had that feeling for a long long time. Curbishley or Coppell are the only ones in that category who might conceviably come to us. Not holding my breath though.

  • Comment number 33.

    Warnock signed the death knell with the quote that Flecther pointed out.
    Going to Hillsbrough would the most stupid idea for Warnock and I would rather he went to Burnley then Wednesday who will plump for Peter Taylor.

  • Comment number 34.

    I don't think Warnock would be such an unpopular appointment at Hillsborough as people may think, Wednesday fans hate him but grudgingly respect him too. Not that he'd ever come anyway. I think fans aren't too keen on the idea of an ex-player coming; I don't think Worthington or Megson would be very popular appointments and to those that have suggested Waddle: please no! Personally I'd like to see someone like Coppell or Reid, and I don't think Alan Irvine would be too bad.

  • Comment number 35.

    This would be a terrible appointment for Wednesday if Warnock took charge, why would he want to take over a team he hates so badly and has wound up over the years.

  • Comment number 36.

    I think we can forget all about Darren Ferguson taking over at Wednesday. The chat is that he has accepted the job at Deepdale. I have checked out this story and have it on pretty good authority that it is true.

    This means that a) Ferguson has opted not to wait and see whether the Burnley job comes his way and b) the search goes on for the Owls.

    Worthington does not seem to be all that popular a prospective appointment, while a few people have gone for Lee Clark. I think we need to wait a little longer to see what he is all about.

  • Comment number 37.

    As an avid palace fan, i would hate to see Warnock leave as he's just starting to build a foundation at the that club with his management. Although, things will most probably become a lot harder if Victor Moses leaves this January.

  • Comment number 38.

    Don't forget that Harry Redknapp did just what Warnock said. He was at Pompey, went to Southampton, got them relegated, then jumped back to Pompey. Boy that was funny. Course that was more that his wife was in Poole and he's a Bournemouth fan so I don't think he really cared what happened. Seems like he left Pompey just in time too.

  • Comment number 39.

    I think Wednesday should go for Coppell. Wealth of championship experience and he isn't a gamble in my opinion. I was so gald when we appointed Billy Davies because he just knows what is needed in this league. Wednesday need some stability, like Forest they are club that needs to finally make a good decision with who they appoint and I'm sure they will be a force again. Much rather see Wednesday at the top end of championship than the blades!

  • Comment number 40.

    Why not Wenger at Spurs?

    Wenger is not an Arsenal supporter, I'm sure if he was out of work and Spurs offered him a decent contract he would consider it and msot spurs fans would be happy enough to have him.

  • Comment number 41.

    Back to Warnock, he has indicated that Palace would be his last job before retirement. Not withstanding his right to do a SAF I can't see him going anywhere requiring rebuilding (which Wednesday do). Maybe a fire fighting job in the PL (Hull City in February when they have sacked Brown) but apart from that can't see Warnock looking anywhere else than Cornwall (and the Truro City bubble has burst).

  • Comment number 42.

    Why are people still going on about Darren Ferguson as if he's a really decent manager?
    Let's not forget that at Posh he had shed-loads of cash; OK - he still had to win promotion, but it was made a lot easier for him as he had the freedom to sign very good players for both League One & Two levels.
    His situation is similar to Paul Ince, who again was put on a pedestal when he really hadn't achieved anything of major significance - the gamble at Blackburn was always doomed for failure.
    The Wendys would be better off looking at Irvine who has a proven track record in The Championship rather than managers who are still learning the game, or are unproven when they have little or no money to spend.

    All in my very honest opinion, ofcourse!

  • Comment number 43.

    I'm really surprised by this blog and some of the comments.

    Warnock was interviewed on TalkSport yesterday and clearly indicated that it is not an impossibility for him to become the next Wednesday boss.

    He spoke candidly about Palaces' financial problems and that football management is his profession and so, just like players, this would be a career move. He also acknowledged what a great club Wednesday is, with a rich history and big ground, and of his disappointment at seeing empy seats there.

    I'm not a big fan of his either, especially since I'm a Liverpool fan, but would I work for Everton im my capacity? Of course I would, given the right deal. That is how employment operates.

    Working for Manchester United would be a different issue mind!!!

  • Comment number 44.

    Apologies Mr. Fletcher, I missed the Daily Mail paragraph somehow. Still, I think you have dsimissed the fact that Warnock may want the job all too easily. Whether the Owls would be prepared to offer it to him is a different matter...

  • Comment number 45.

    big differnece is....

    Neil Warnock has no class and if the £££s are right he'd be there like a shot...

  • Comment number 46.

    Loyalty is as good as dead in football today and who can blame footballers and managers when there are such huge amounts of money involved?

    They all have families to support, lives to live after the game and Lamborghinis to service.

  • Comment number 47.

    Only one man for the job - Nigel Worthington. Good track record, good man management and committed to Wednesday. Please bring on the mighty "Irish"!

  • Comment number 48.

    As a Newcastle fan I thought the entire world had agreed its our job to be self deluded but reading the comments here I see delusion is alive and well here in sheffield. It did however give me a good laugh "its like Wenger to Spurs" "sheffields senior club"? and the classic "I have it on good authority" priceless stuff guys and I think thats the point Warnock is just having a giggle and shearer for wednesday well let me tell ya that bugger wont get out of bed for less than your entire wage bill.

  • Comment number 49.

    #45 - Agree that Warnock has no class, used to make me cringe when he was interviewed however can't agree that he isn't loyal. He turned down Portsmouth while at Blades which was more money and at the time he wasn't being offered a new contract by United which was due to expire at the end of that season.

    Wednesday could do a lot worse than Irvine and although Megson appears to be unpopular, he did get WBA promoted from the Championship and he has a lot of ties to the club. I think Worthington would be a sentimental choice as I can't see he has proved himself at this level. Don't think Coppell would come and surely Sturrock is a backwards step?

  • Comment number 50.

    49. - he had a reason to be loyal to blades, he's a blades fan, palace on the other hand means nothing to him, if he's not getting paid, he'll be out the trap like a wippet

  • Comment number 51.

    48. At 2:23pm on 06 Jan 2010, jonathan craven wrote:
    As a Newcastle fan I thought the entire world had agreed its our job to be self deluded but reading the comments here I see delusion is alive and well here in sheffield. It did however give me a good laugh "its like Wenger to Spurs" "sheffields senior club"? and the classic "I have it on good authority" priceless stuff guys and I think thats the point Warnock is just having a giggle and shearer for wednesday well let me tell ya that bugger wont get out of bed for less than your entire wage bill.

    You are right Mr Craven, you lot are deluded and we wouldn't Shearer, he has only done ONE good thing as a manager and I wouldn't want him to do it to us as well.

    As for Colin there is absolutely no chance he will ever be Wednesday manager as the board know that half of the fanbase wouldn't support it.

    For me it needs to be either (in order):
    Alan Irvine
    Stuart Baxter
    Colin Calderwood

  • Comment number 52.

    49. - "I think Worthington would be a sentimental choice as I can't see he has proved himself at this level..."

    Really? I mean, really.

    I'll repeat myself, steered us clear of relegation in half a season, took a weak side to the play off final the following season before becoming champions with a club record points total 2 seasons later.

    Yes it went a bit stale at the end but look at where we are 3 inept managers later; we're only just finding our feet again with Lambert.

    He also got 2 wins and 3 draws in charge of relegation threatened Leicester City in 5 games as a caretaker in 2007.

    For Wednesday I believe the 3 most likely appointments to be Megson, Worthington, or Irvine.

    Coppell and Curbishley especially are holding out for better jobs, neither seem desperate for a managerial return right now.

  • Comment number 53.

    I wouldn't want Worthington or Megson as they've both passed us over before using the old "right club, wrong time" excuse. A no for Sturrock too despite that fantastic day in May 2005, I just don't think he can cut it at Championship level plus nothing is the same 2nd time around.

    Personally I want Irvine too, but by the time we get a new manager our future could already be known. By the end of January we play 3 teams who are around us at the bottom of the table, If we don't get enough points then it could be curtains. Whoever takes the job needs to hit the ground running.

    I've heard that Warnock still bears a grudge against Kevin McCabe for his dismissal from United after their relegation, if this is true is this his real motive?

  • Comment number 54.

    WARNOCK FOR HILLSBORO?
    AND THE VATICAN TO SPONSER GLASGOW RANGERS !!!!

  • Comment number 55.

    What an absolute peice of "non-journalism"!!! everyone and their grandmother not in work at the minute has been linked with this job.

    You saw it fit to write an article/blog on the warnock link. You've done what Neil warnock wanted you do and thats make Sheffield Wednesday look ridiculous.

    If you havent noticed that every comment and every rant made this man is designed to enflame the opposition/media/debate, then you also probably believe that Tim Westwood is "actually like that".

    I'm as disapointed with ´óÏó´«Ã½ for letting this tripe on their website as I was when I first saw "hole in the wall".

    Why can't you just wait to see what the club do and get an official statement instead of wasting everybodies time with this sort of rubbish.

  • Comment number 56.

    Dan - to be fair I did ring the club about this, or at least a contact I know who is very reliable about what is going on there, in order to establish that there was nothing in the Warnock link. I mention this in the blog, as well as that there was nothing in the link with Alan Shearer.

    I also thought it might prove useful in terms of kicking off a debate about who Owls fans want to take the job - and whether any actually feel that Warnock is currently exactly the sort of man Wednesday need.

  • Comment number 57.

    If it's debate you wanted to enflame then post on the 606 forun or any of the other thousands there are.

    But no you decided to draw this up and pepper it with a picture of neil warnock "laughing at being linked with the job".

    If you've called the club surely you would have either have an exclusive on your hands or are in the dark like the rest of us.

    Surely you should know that we as a public, on the whole know that when journalists use the term "an insider said" and "a source close too..." that the truth behind it is, shall we say, Questionable.

    Why not write an article outlining Sheffield Wednesday's apparent lack of ambition (signing of warren feeney/luke varney/francis jeffers etc. or the chairman walking arund the US cap-in-hand looking for people to invest instead concentrating on what's happening on the field), or one about "How have Nottingham Forest managed to be knocking on the premiership door and leapfrogging us in the "queue", just simply by not spending any money"

    Surprise us, we knew all that above.

  • Comment number 58.

    When I say Forest knock on the door of the prem without spending money i mean that they had a self imposed transfer emargo which rectified their finances to put them in the frame of being a championship transfer superpower that they are now.

    We should be taking leaves, nay, taking their whole book

  • Comment number 59.

    As a Forest fan myself I'd have to say that I agree with what you said at the end.
    But we realised that we'd over spent with the Platt era so took stock and know have a questionable Transfer Committee to make sure we get value for money.
    Wednesday are my second team and I always look out for them and to me it seems they lack ambition and a bit of drive.
    Forest went out and got Billy Davies when it was working this time last year and to be fair didn't back him in the transfer market until the Summer...loan signings and his know how got us out of this pickle!
    I think Wednesday have already waited too long to move for a new man. QPR and Preston have already got new men in so therefore it shows you don't have to always think them through too long. Paul Mariner at Plymouth also proves the value in getting in a man over Christmas...if you can have the new manager boost when you have a few games in succession it can reap huge rewards, instead The Owls have festered under McCauley and have had no games for a a while to bounce back from.
    Their next match with the Posh on Sat now looks so huge!
    If I was running the club I'd go with Alan Irvine...seems a good honest man and very straight talking. I thought he was unlucky to lose his job at Preston and I think he'd be a breath of fresh air around Hillsborough.
    But more than likely it'll be Megson who got us relegated to league One!
    As for the blog...I can see why Dan thought it was causing a stir and in the end it's up to Mr Strafford who he appoints but a bit of fan banter never goes astray... Neil 'Devil face' Warnock is a staunch Blade...unlike that little turncoat at Direby County and wouldn't touch Wednesday with a barge pole!

  • Comment number 60.

    It's lovely to have stories like this one. Warnock the mischevious!
    I reckon that Palace will his last post unless Pompey come knockin' as the Administrator tries to dig them out of the "snow". But can clubs have more than 2 managers in a season?

  • Comment number 61.

    Dan - I think we are all at times guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. Trust me, there is nothing shabby or spurious about the use of a source in this case. He is pretty decent.

    Also, most of my pieces are 1000-word plus articles. I have done two this season about Wednesday you might want to check out. Particularly this one:

    /blogs/paulfletcher/2009/07/sheffield_wednesdays_man_with.html

    I just felt that Warnock to Wednesday was a topic people could have some fun with. Sorry you find it so outrageous.

  • Comment number 62.

    if warnock wants to go, let him go we can always get the legend himself steve coppell...... that would be good!!

  • Comment number 63.

    The trouble with Warnock without being too personal is his false teeth and wig. When he talk all you see is his false teeth they sometime come loose and he rolls them in his gob - his wig is never straight as well. On top of that he is a known drinker - often very pissed and talks about the price of eggs in Tesco instead of talking about the team. I know he likes to frequent saunas in the Palace area. He has irratable bowel syndrome so he can whiff at bit at times that why no-one like him.

  • Comment number 64.

    when i heard and read this on sky sports, i thought what the hell!? y wood warnock leave palace 4 wednesday, and to be fair, i could see warnock leave palace as their is a financial crisis down in se25
    i dnt want warnock 2 leave, he has been i think palace's 3rd best manager :)

    as they all say in warnock we trust!!!!!!!!!

  • Comment number 65.

    Well, in Warnock we do trust at CPFC and now Alan Irvine has been appointed, Wednesday have given themselves a fighting chance to get out of this relegation dogfight.

    Irvine has worked the oracle once down at Preston and could do so again. Meanwhile, Preston have gone for an untried and untested (barely) manager at Championship level. It might work.....but it might not.

    I do wish Wednesday every success until the last game of the season - hopefully survival for them and any mitigating results will have been solved by then.....I have a soft spot for Wednesday since the 1-1 draw back in 1991 and the celebrations following this game. It was one of Mark Bright's last goals for us (I think that he got 2 more before he went to Hillsborough) as well.

    Long may Neil reign at Palace though - I would not go so far as to agree with Jonathan though - the notion of best would mean that a manager needs to have won something and as Bert Head, Terry Venables, Steve Coppell and Alan Smith all did that, does that qualify as better? Or is it win percentage? NW is certainly up there but for me, if he gets us promoted it can only see him be included in that category.

  • Comment number 66.

    Is it possible to remove this blog? It's starting to make me feel a little sick!!
    Lee Strafford would have never put us through the punishment of Colin taking over at the Wednesday. Very interesting though, that Warnock entertained the idea of switching allegiance. I think secretly it has always been his dream job, we all know that our pink little brother's are all closet Wednesdayites.
    The future is a far brighter place with Irvine in charge of us. This whole scenario with the change of managers between the championship clubs has benefited us massively I feel. I wonder if you know if there was any truth in the 1 million package WBA were willing to pay to prize Irvine away from Preston? Either way, I think we have found ourselves a very capable manager. Moyes trained and has a fantastic record in management so far, albeit a short time. I was though, genuinely worried about Ferguson becoming our new manager. Only time will tell how they both fare but I think we have found ourselves a little gem. Here's hoping!
    Up the mighty Owls

  • Comment number 67.

    If Neil Warnock had got the job at Sheffield Wednesday, I dont think I would ever go to another game as long as I lived. Luckily he hasn't, and he I seriously doubt he'd have taken the job anyway. Things are in an awful state at Wednesday right now. The Palace game in the FA cup was probably the lowest point i've experienced at the club. Both in terms of the attendance, and the pathetic show on the pitch. Having said this I do think Irvine will just about keep us up!

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