Sheffield Wednesday fans back caretaker manager Neil Thompson to keep Owls job

Thompson has been overseeing first team affairs following the sacking of Tony Pulis at Christmas.

Since then, the former York City, Scarborough and Boston United manager has led the Owls to three victories in four leagues games - including Saturday’s 1-0 win over Preston North End which moved Wednesday to within four points of safety in the Championship.

But the 57-year-old Thompson has constantly refused to be drawn on the managerial vacancy at Hillsborough despite being favourite with SkyBet.

“I’ve been at the club a long time and whether a new manager comes in or not I’m quite relaxed about it,” he said last week.

“My job at this moment in time is to prepare the team for games. That’s what I’m doing, whatever comes out of the other end of it, that’s fine.

“I’m not putting myself under any pressure thinking ‘I’ve got to do this or I’ve got to do that’, ultimately whatever position you have, you give everything you’ve got to put them in the best position you possibly can. At the end of the day, in terms of the manager’s position, whatever comes, comes.”

However, following Saturday’s win over Preston at S6, we asked Wednesdayites if they would be happy for Thompson to stay in the job until the end of the season.

More than 1,300 people took part in the 24-hour poll via our @TheStarOwls Twitter account, with 53 per cent of respondents backing Thompson to remain in the Hillsborough hotseat.

A further 24 per cent believed someone else should be given the task of keeping the Owls up and 23 per cent said they weren’t sure what the club should do.

As well as Thompson, other names in the frame to replace Pulis – who lasted just 45 days at Wednesday – include Manchester United legend Roy Keane, Dutchman Henk ten Cate and former Wales manager Chris Coleman.

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