Former Brentford, Aston Villa, and Norwich City boss Dean Smith is Sheffield Wednesday’s first choice manager ahead of next season, reports The Star.
Smith, 52, spent 16 years as a professional footballer, spending time as a player with Sheffield Wednesday between 2003 and 2004 where he made 62 total appearances.
He’s better known for his time as a manager though. Smith started at Walsall before spending three years at Brentford. He then took charge of Aston Villa in October 2018 and in another three-year stint, Smith guided the club to Championship promotion in 2019 and then to the League Cup final the following year.
After a year at Norwich City, Smith came in to Leicester City towards the end of last season but couldn’t prevent the Foxes from relegation to the Championship. Now after links to Sheffield Wednesday this week, The Star have revealed that Smith is the Owls’ first choice manager to come in following the shock exit of Darren Moore earlier this month.
Dean Smith to Sheffield Wednesday?
Smith seems like a preferred choice among Owls fans online, and they’ll no doubt be pleased to hear The Star’s report that he’s the club’s first choice manager to replace Moore.
But whether or not Smith would want to come in and take on the job remains to be seen. It’s clearly a difficult position and working with owner Dejphon Chansiri could be challenging, so an experienced and respected manager like Smith may think twice before taking on the Sheffield Wednesday.
But if he does come in then Wednesday will be getting a very capable and proven manager, but beating the drop next season will still be the realistic aim for the club.