WEDNESDAY PICK MOORE TO MAKE THEM FEEL MERRIER
DARREN Moore has left Doncaster Rovers to become the new manager of Sheffield Wednesday.
The 46-year-old, who had been in charge of Rovers since July 2019, succeeds Tony Pulis following his dismissal in December, with Neil Thompson having been in interim charge for the intervening period. Moore told the club’s Twitter account: “The chairman identified me as a candidate to lead the club and take the club forward. It’s an excellent club, and the opportunity was too much to resist. I want to give Sheffield Wednesday every ounce of myself and get started as quickly as possible.
“It’s a huge a challenge, what I will say to everyone is, what has gone has gone and we all need to come together. I’m calling on the fans, we need unity, let’s look forward as one.”
He will take charge of the Owls for tomorrow night’s Championship clash with Rotherham at Hillsborough. The former defender is the club’s third permanent manager of the season, with Pulis having lasted only seven weeks after succeeding Garry Monk in November.
Moore leaves a club challenging for promotion in League One for a side who sit second bottom of the Championship, six points from safety having lost their last four games. Doncaster expressed their disappointment at Moore’s decision, with defender Andy Butler put in temporary charge.
Chairman David Blunt told the club’s website: “We are disappointed Darren has chosen to leave the club partway through a season full of promise.
“We have made significant efforts to support Darren over the past 18 months and ensure he was able to build a team capable of challenging in the top six. This has included supporting him through the past two transfer windows despite the difficult financial circumstances.
“Our ambitions remain to achieve a top-six finish and we hope and expect that Andy will use this time to put himself in the prime position to secure the role on a permanent basis. “Andy’s first priority will be to halt the team’s recent run of poor form and put our season back on track.” Assistant manager Jamie Smith has also left Rovers to join Moore at Hillsborough.