Alan Biggs: Jack Charlton's Sheffield Wednesday legacy should be one that benefits Garry Monk

All the tributes have been justly paid, it only remains to assess Jack Charlton’s legacy at Sheffield Wednesday - and to this day it is surprisingly relevant.
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk issues instructions to his team. Pic Steve EllisSheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk issues instructions to his team. Pic Steve Ellis
Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk issues instructions to his team. Pic Steve Ellis

A former Owls media chief, Steve Chu, peered through Twitter’s mist of nostalgia last weekend and ventured that Big Jack might have been “hounded out” of Hillsborough in the modern era.

How so? Charlton rescued Wednesday from the club’s darkest days. He lifted them from the bottom of the old Third Division and left them knocking on the door to the First.

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Yet this was no overnight success; it took five-and-a-half years to achieve, between his arrival in October, 1977, and departure in May, 1983.

Jack’s one promotion came after nearly three seasons’ work. He then built steadily at the new level and left of his own volition, believing quite wisely (and prophetically) that managers had a shelf life.

Familiarity had yet to breed contempt around Hillsborough where Charlton was concerned and his trick was to move on first, leaving a basis for Howard Wilkinson to win promotion the following season.

I recall phoning him after his departure was announced. He was quite emotional.

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How different were those days, remembered fondly by your correspondent, who was privileged to have held a microphone in front of Jack on many occasions - with the great man paying the familiar compliment of never remembering his name!

His bark was fierce but he was a long streak of kindness underneath, above all a wonderful character as well as having a natural streetwise intelligence for the job.

Wednesday fans like their managers to be characters where possible - Ron Atkinson springs to mind - or strong leaders, as per Wilkinson. And importantly they had near to full control.

But I think Charlton’s legacy is also to show that successful eras have to be built with continuity over time, something modern bosses are seldom allowed.

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Current incumbent Garry Monk may or may not be the right man or get the time allowed. But someone should and if he starts rebuilding on the right lines then why not him?

Let’s try another measure of what is required right now. The Carlos Carvalhal team of 2015 to 2017 was Wednesday’s finest since they exited the top flight 20 years ago - and arguably kindled more hope and excitement than any since the great side of the early-to-mid 1990s.

You can’t compare the Carlos side with the Atkinson/ Trevor Francis team of Waddle, Sheridan, Hirst etc., which was in another league in all senses.

Where there is a parallel is in the transition afterwards. That task in the 90s consumed Francis, David Pleat and then Atkinson again, all in short order.

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Starting with Francis in those heady days, the Owls have had 18 managers. They are still outside the elite. Brian Laws, at just over three years, has been the longest serving.

Now look back at Big Jack’s reign and I think the message is clear.

Being in the sort of state Wednesday are in today is not a quick fix. There are signs, at least, of a start.