Paul Jewell, you are the weakest link - goodbye (Sheffield Wednesday F.C.)

Member Name: mikeb

Product:	Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Date:	13/02/01 (244 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A new manager usually gets better results at first.

Disadvantages: If the players wern't trying it's tough on Jewell.

So Paul Jewell has now been sacked, shortly after receiving the dreaded vote of confidence and leaving with him is Chairman Howard Culley, although he will retain his seat on the Wednesday board for the time being. His sacking comes days after the 4-1 hammering at Wimbledon and two days before a crucial home game against third from bottom Tranmere Rovers.

Jewell loses his job after just eight months in charge and a run of only 2 wins in 13 matches which has left them at the bottom of the First Division and staring another relegation in the face. For the time being Peter Shreeves takes over as caretaker manager assisted by coach Terry Yorath. 70 year old Geoff Hulley takes over as Chairman, their third in a year. Wednesday have only won 7 out of 31 games this season and apart from a brief rally have struggled throughout the current campaign.

Todays events make me wonder whether Paul Jewell would now reconsider his decision to leave Bradford City (who also look destined for the drop) in the summer to take up the challenge at Hillsborough. Financial difficulties at the Yorkshire club meant that there had to be a clearout of players during the summer in order to cut the wage bill and this meant there was very little scope for the manager to strengthen his squad. It was even rumoured that Jewell was prevented from signing a player earlier this season for £250,000 because Wednesday could not finance the deal and in fact his highest priced signing was Steve Harkness who cost only £200,000. At least at at Bradford, Jewell would probably have had some cash for transfers and he had the full backing of all the Bradford fans after last years miracle escape. Apparently Paul Jewell is reported as saying he has no regrets at joining the Owls, though he was bound to say that.

In the wake of Jewell’s sacking there has been talk of the players letting him down and shouldering alot of the blame for his early dismissal. The ex manager has said himsel
f that he wished there had been more effort from the players during games so I presume he will be feeling a bit let down by them today.

So what of the future for the Owls and their prospects of avoiding the drop for the second successive year. The new Chairman Hulley has appointed Shreeve and Yorath until at least the end of the season on a caretaker basis but will make this permanent if the duo manage to keep Wednesday up. If they win the midweek match against Tranmere they could move out of the bottom three so all is definately not lost, especially with the instant lift in performance and improved results that a new manager usually brings.

There are only three points separating the bottom five teams so anyone who can string a few good results together are bound to improve their position. If it is true that the Wednesday players have not been giving 100% during the season, for whatever reason, it would be no great surprise to see them go on a Middlesborough type run and pull clear of the relegation zone. If this does happen Peter Shreeve will get much of the praise but perhaps questions should also be asked of the commitment and professionalism of the Sheffield Wednesday players during Paul Jewells very brief stay at the club.

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