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Sean's challenge
OWLS caretaker boss Sean McAuley is parrying questions about whether he wants to keep the job - but he believes that the Hillsborough post is a big lure for many in the game.
He insists that he is focusing on Saturday's match against Swansea and the immediate future rather than on whether he may become the longer-term successor to Brian Laws.
"It would be poor leadership from me if I start communicating any information about myself now," he said.
"The players need to understand that I'm going to help them and back them. But in terms of any sort of long-term plan, I haven't even looked at it."
McAuley, who signed a new five-year contract as Academy Manager earlier this year, is highly regarded by the club, and fans admired the job he did as caretaker boss in between the reigns of Paul Sturrock and Brian Laws.
It could be that the Owls still regard him as more of a manager of the future than as someone to take full charge now.
McAuley says that he will use the experience he has gained as a player and coach since he entered football at the age of 16 - "working with really good people all through my career" - to aid him in the situation he now occupies:
"What comes after that takes care of itself."
He added: "Managers come and go here. I think the reason is that it's such a good job for anybody out there, and the reason why there have been so many changes over the years is that the expectations at Sheffield Wednesday are so high. It still amazes me that we have a group of supporters who turn up to watch the grass grow and want to see the club do well."
He said that there could be big changes off the field soon, as well - a reference to the possibility of an investment deal.
"It (the manager's job] is a really attractive proposition for anybody. I think that other managers come here and look at this place and think that one day they would like to manage it."
McAuley, aged 37, has a reputation as a good coach and man-manager.
He comes from High Greave, Sheffield, and went to Colley School.
He was a trainee left-back at Manchester United, then played at St Johnstone, Chesterfield, Hartlepool, Scunthorpe, Scarborough, Rochdale, Tamworth, and Portland Timbers, and was assistant manager at Halifax before becoming Owls assistant Academy director four years ago.He says that the challenge he now faces is slighter tougher than the one he had in his previous spell as caretaker boss, when he won three games and drew one.
"It's a completely different situation; the game's moved forward, got better. We're in a worse position this time.
"Off the field the club is better than it was then. The team haven't reflected that. There's probably added pressure, with that.
"We've played more games this time. So we need to make an immediate impact."
With coaches Russ Wilcox and John Dungworth having departed with Laws, McAuley said he will be aided by goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer, fitness coach Tom Little, match analyst Russ Storey and highly qualified academy coaches who will help out with the Reserves.
McAuley himself will also watch a young side play at Port Vale in tonight's reserve game.
Wednesday believe that the possibility of investment in the near future gives them a wide range of potential candidates.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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