Next Sheffield Wednesday manager: Everything that happened today with announcement imminent while former skipper speaks

It would appear as though the Owls are preparing to reveal the identity of their new boss and it will come as no surprise should that man be Tony Pulis.

The former Stoke, West Brom and Middlesbrough manager is expected to take charge and step into the role somewhat suprisingly vacated by Garry Monk on Monday night.

With that in mind our Owls writer Joe Crann went to work on digging out some stats on the man who is to become chairman Dejphon Chansiri’s sixth permanent coach.

FIVE interesting Tony Pulis stats as Sheffield Wednesday reportedly close in on former Premier League manager

It was also revealed by our columnist Alan Biggs, that the reported shoter-term deal until the end of the season may not, in fact be the case, with Pulis apparently being offered a two-and-a-half year deal.

Alan tweeted: “Good sources suggesting to me that Tony Pulis’s anticipated appointment as #SWFC manager will be long-term, not short. Told a deal of around 2.5 years nearing completion. With David Kemp as his assistant.”

Well-known shrinking violet Simon Jordan – the former owner of Crystal Palace and now co-presenter on TalkSPORT, then threw in his tuppence worth on the potential arrival.

Jordan said: “I don’t think he pulled up trees at Middlesbrough but I do think that some of the work that he did at Stoke and Palace was of the highest quality.

“It’s not an inspiring decision but it’s a decision based upon perhaps where Sheffield Wednesday are at this moment in time, which is they’re struggling at the bottom of the league because of the points docking.

“I don’t know what Tony Pulis would have said to the owner that would have convinced him that he’s a better solution than Garry Monk. I’m not a huge admirer of Garry Monk’s either. But I look at Tony Pulis and think, OK, you know what you’re going to get. He’s relatively safe. I don’t think you’re going to get an easy ride with him as an owner.”

Jordan added: “I suppose to some extent he does (fit the bill), yeah. Not because there’s any ambition in that appointment and not because it’s going to get Sheffield Wednesday out of this division. What it will do is avert an immediate crisis. And for Sheffield Wednesday fans, do you want a more aspirational environment or do you want an environment that’s constantly treading water?”

So with Pulis ready to come in, Joe Crann then went through the current Owls squad and picked what he thinks would be the new man’s starting XI, based on the way Pulis sets his team up.

Would this be Tony Pulis' ideal XI if he joined Sheffield Wednesday?

None of the Owls squad had said anything of Monks’ departure this week – aside from a tweet from Izzy Brown – as they had been given a few days off before this had all happened.

Back in for training today, Tom Lees stepped up.

“Everyone’s been around long enough to know that that’s how the business works," he said. “Obviously we all were right behind the last manager and his staff when they came in in the summer. I personally really enjoyed working with him, so I’m very grateful for what he did for me while he was here.”

Sheffield Wednesday’s Tom Lees becomes the first to comment on Garry Monk’s exit and explains what they need to ‘take forward’

And on the players’ return, there was at least a familiar face taking training today as the Owls look for a bit of continuity.

Who took Sheffield Wednesday’s training session today as Owls returned after Garry Monk’s exit?

Finally, Joe Crann made the point in his column this evening that, no matter who is taking over, it needs to be done and sorted quickly.

Need for Speed: Time is off the essence for Sheffield Wednesday – Joe Crann’s column

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