Source: FOOTYMAD
Results will define Megson era
Ex-Owl takes charge at Hillsborough Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Gary Megson as their new manager this evening following the departure of Alan Irvine earlier in the week. Megson has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with club he has supported all of his life and has previously played for, as did his father. Megson made over 250 appearances in the Owls’ midfield during the 1980’s. The former Wednesday player has previously managed Norwich City, Blackpool, Stockport, Stoke, WBA, Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Bolton. His biggest successes came while in charge of the Baggies, who he led to the Premier League on two occasions during a 4-year spell at the helm. His next job at Nottingham Forest shows some resemblance to his predecessor, Alan Irvine’s time in charge at Hillsborough. He was appointed at boss at the City Ground in January 2005 with Forest struggling near the foot of the table and he was unable to guide them to Championship safety. He resigned in February of the 2005/06 season with the clubs promotion ambitions faltering. Milan Mandaric appointed him as Leicester City manager in 2007 but his reign there lasted less than 2 months as he left to take charge of Premier league side Bolton Wanderers. The Lancashire outfit were bottom of the table with 5 points from 10 games when Megson took over but he managed to guide them to safety, finishing 16th. The following season Megson guided Wanderers to a creditable 13th place in the top flight but the team performed inconsistently during the start of the 2009/10 season and he was relieved of his duties in December with the club lying in 18th position. Megson was never a popular figure with large sections of the Bolton support but his overall time at the Reebok stadium suggests that there were plenty of positives to take from the spell. A major criticism of his management has been his style of play – this often being referred to as direct. Alan Irvine was often lamented by some Owls fans due to a perceived negative approach that gave too much focus to the strengths of the opposition. However, what matters first and foremost given the position that the Owls are in is results. Milan Mandaric sees promotion as an achievable priority this season and something which is not beyond them despite their recent form. If Gary Megson can lead the Owls back into the Championship come the end of the season then few will be too concerned how he does this. Paul Sturrock was hardly renowned for bringing flowing football to Hillsborough but he was revered by many for getting the Owls promoted and with 20 league games to go that has to be the aim for Wednesday.
