Sheffield Wednesday legend Nigel Pearson set for Championship top job, say reports

The 57-year-old former Leicester City boss has been out of work since leaving Watford last July and was among the early bookies favourites for the still yet to be permanently filled job at Hillsborough and though Pearson would be a hugely popular choice among supporters, The Star understands that no contact has been made between the two parties.

It seems Pearson is likely to take on the job at Ashton Gate with Bristol City 15th in the Championship table and are on a run of seven consecutive defeats, six of which they have failed to score in.

Dean Holden was sacked ahead of the weekend’s defeat to Barnsley with several suggesting that the Robins, 10 points ahead of the relegation zone and 11 ahead of the second-bottom Owls.

Holden’s reign was short-lived having taken over from Lee Johnson, since appointed at Sunderland, who was fleetingly linked with the Wednesday role ahead of Tony Pulis’ appointment.

Bristol City had been tipped to challenge for the playoff paces, though their recent spiral in form has seen them join the fringes of the relegation battle.

“You never say never but I like living in Sheffield,” Pearson told The Star in 2019 when asked about the possibility of taking on the top job at Sheffield Wednesday.

“I have been quoted as saying I have an emotional attachment (to the club) but what I don't want is emotional baggage to do a job.

“Football management is about making tough decisions. As a football manager, you want to make fans happy by being successful but you can't keep everybody happy all the time because you have to sometimes make decisions that are unpopular or not always understandable.

“Sheffield has been such a big part of my life and family's life that I don't really want to put that at risk for a job.”

Pearson was Owls captain during their historic 1990/91 season during which they were promoted from Division Two and won the Rumbelows Cup. He played 180 league matches for the club from 1987-1994.

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