How Tony Pulis sought advice from former Sheffield Wednesday boss on how to turn Owls around

The newly-installed Sheffield Wednesday boss leafed through his vast contacts book and spent the time on the phone to a number of allies in football to find out what was right and indeed what was wrong at the club.

Announced on Friday, the former Stoke boss made the trip to Sheffield on Sunday before his unveiling the next day.

And as revealed on Alan Biggs’ Sheffield Live football show, former Owls boss Brian Laws was one of those consulted on a number of matters, including how to get the goal-shy Owls firing in front of goal.

“I spoke to Tony at length while he was travelling up to Sheffield,” Laws said.

“He’s been in the game a long time and knows he has to use the tools available to him, getting as much information as possible and collating as much information as possible from all different sources.

“That’s to get a good feel for the club, for the players for what has been going on. He will get honest opinions from people he trusts. And then he formulates from that how he is going to progress with the club.

“We went through all the players, he’s asked questions of people within the football club, outside the football club, knowledgeable football managers who know and understand the actual squad.

“He’s done an awful lot of homework and he will have a formation in his mind and he will expect them to get on with it."

Laws said that the pair also discussed the differences that the coronavirus crisis have posed to football, a novelty to Pulis given he has been out of the game for 18 months, and the 62-year-old’s burning desire to fight off the nay-sayers.

Laws said: “He’s a serial winner. He understands what is required, particularly in the Championship and he loves the fact he can prove people wrong.

“There are a lot of people who are out there that think that he’s finished and that he’s a bit old school. He’ll be delighted to prove those people wrong.”

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

"I don't give a damn" - Sheffield Wednesday boss Tony Pulis on how he's portrayed

Big-name Pulis has brought 'massive' Sheffield Wednesday back into the national consciousness

What's the latest with Lee Bullen and Nicky Weaver's position at Sheffield Wednesday?

*

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor