Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder and Sky Sports pundit David Prutton says he’s surprised by Darren Moore’s exit, but suggests that the Owls are hoping for successive promotions.
Sheffield Wednesday and Moore parted ways earlier this week. The club are now without a manager, just a month-and-a-half away from the start of the season, with Sheffield Wednesday hosting Southampton in the very first game of the 2023/24 Championship campaign.
There’s a tonne of work to do at Hillsborough before then. The Owls are also without a Head of Recruitment after David Downes’ departure to Blackpool earlier this month, and with the barebones of a first-team as things stand, making Wednesday’s fortunes look pretty bleak.
And having his say on Moore’s Wednesday exit, Prutton – who made 61 total appearances for Sheffield Wednesday between 2011 and 2014 – said live on Sky Sports this morning:
“Surprised, even though the cliche goes you shouldn’t be surprised about anything in football. I thought being able to do what they did in the second leg and at Wembley meant they would move forward with consistency and foundation to compete in the Championship.
“It’s obviously been made by the owner with foresight to make sure the Championship season is successful. Maybe it’s a reflection of where their thought process is – it’s not about consolidation, maybe they are going to try and jump twice in two seasons.”
Wednesday for top six?
Prutton’s comments above echo that of what owner Dejphon Chansiri said in the club’s fan forum earlier this week – he insisted that the minimum aim for Sheffield Wednesday next season is finishing inside the play-offs.
Given how strong the Championship roster is looking next season, and all of the facts surrounding Sheffield Wednesday right now, staying in the division may be an achievement tin itself.
Chansiri’s ambition can’t be faltered, but whether or not he’s realistic about his ambitions is a different question.
Finding a manager that can guide Wednesday to a top six finish is going to be tough, but if Chansiri wants that then he needs to be ready to spend in the transfer market this summer.