Promotion-winning manager reveals unrealistic aims Dejphon Chansiri set in vacancy talks
“Somebody can dream...but there are limits”
Gus Poyet has revealed he once held talks about becoming Sheffield Wednesday’s manager but unrealistic aims meant talks did not progress.
The 58-year-old, who won domestic and European trophies with Chelsea as a player, and silverware when managing Brighton and Sunderland, had discussions about the vacancy at Hillsborough in December 2020 after Tony Pulis was sacked with The Owls second from bottom of the Championship. Pulis had replaced Garry Monk that season but one win in 10 meant he was also dismissed.
Wednesday, who had suffered a points deduction for breaching spending rules, were searching for their third boss of the campaign and staring relegation to League One in the face but - unsurprising to Owls fans now - then owner Dejphon Chansiri believed they could finish in the play-offs.
Speaking to The Star, Poyet confirmed reports linking him with the job at the time were accurate, saying: “Now, yeah, we can say that yes, it was true. I had a meeting with the owner at that moment in time. I think was 21 games to go, so it was the middle of the season more or less. The outcome was, the objective of the club in the position that they were at that time, and how many games they wanted me to win from those 21, it was not realistic.
“We didn't have any more contact because of the difference in opinions on how realistic it was. Me, I like difficult challenges, but I have a minimum of possibilities. In my head, it was a relegation battle fight with quite a lot of possibility to get to the middle of the table. For the club, it was getting in the play-offs. I mean, somebody can dream, but there are limits in those dreams. So it was not possible.
“But I always considered them an incredible, unbelievable team with a great history. So yeah, it was an opportunity, but unfortunately we didn't come to an agreement.”
In the end, Wednesday appointed Darren Moore. Although he could not save them from relegation that season, he brought them back up in stunning fashion in 2023 after an historic play-off comeback against Peterborough United and last-gasp Wembley against Barnsley.
*This interview was in association with The Fantasy Tool.