Owls need to act now to avoid lowest ebb
A BOOK chronicling Sheffield Wednesday’s darkest days in the mid-1970s was recently released with ironic timing.
For Owls fans who lived through that era ‘Our Lowest Ebb?’ brings back painful memories.
But fast-forward 45 years and some might ask: “What’s changed?”
Long-suffering supporters of the club will have a brief respite from the ongoing Hillsborough chaos with an FA Cup fourth round tie at Everton tonight.
However, ex-Wednesday goalkeeper and manager Chris Turner reckons not even an unlikely shock at Goodison Park can put any gloss on the desperate situation in South Yorkshire.
He said: “It’s a massive mess. The fans are disillusioned and it’s becoming a toxic place.
“They were docked six points for overspending, form has been poor, they’re in the relegation zone and they don’t have a manager.
“It’s a tough time to be a Wednesday fan and, though the FA Cup might be a distraction, it’s a sideshow to the task of staying in the Championship.
“That’s why the recruitment of the next new manager is the most vital decision they can make this season – it’s a huge one.
“If they get it right they can survive. If not they’ll be in League One next season and that would be disastrous for the future.
“I don’t think this is a time for experimentation.
“They need a manager who knows this division and that’s why I think Paul Cook would be perfect.”
Many thought Tony Pulis would be too after taking over from Garry Monk in November – but he lasted just 45 days with Neil Thompson now in caretaker charge.
Turner added: “I’m sure Pulis would have had ideas to bring players in but he didn’t make it to January.”