Give Darren time to turn Owls around

IF DARREN Moore had been under any illusions about the size of the task ahead of him at Sheffield Wednesday, then his first week in charge will surely have shattered them. First up came that agonising last-gasp home defeat against ten-man Rotherham in midweek. Then came yesterday’s 3-0 reverse at high-flying Reading, which saw the Owls reduced to ten men when Julian Borner was dismissed for bringing down George Puscas.

All told, it means Wednesday have now lost their last six games and are seven points from safety. You don’t need to be Einstein to work out that the Yorkshire club are in grave danger of dropping into the third tier again.

It’s been a horrible season for the Owls – points deductions, poor form and managerial mayhem making it a nightmare at Hillsborough. Garry Monk, Tony Pulis and Neil Thompson, the latter as caretaker, have all had stints in the managerial hotseat.

With his Doncaster side performing well in League One (and continuing to do so following his exit), it would have been easy for Moore to sit tight and try to get promotion with them.

However, the size and potential of Sheffield Wednesday has clearly proved too tempting for him and he took the opportunity when it was offered. With the way it’s going, it may well be necessary for Moore and the Owls to take a step backwards before they can move forward again.

Of course, they’re not down yet, but it’s going to take a major turnaround for Wednesday to be lining up again in the Championship next term.

If the worst does happen, at least former West Brom boss Moore has knowledge of League One and what’s needed to thrive in it. But will he be given time if results don’t go his way in the short-term?

Previous experience suggests not. Yet what Wednesday need now is a period of stablility and Moore will hope to give them that. He’s taken a big gamble and only time will tell if he’s made the right call.