Tony Pulis hails 'great' and 'special' Sheffield Wednesday - states hopes for next season
Tony Pulis was sacked as Owls boss after just 10 matches
Tony Pulis says Sheffield Wednesday is one of the ‘great’ clubs in the country and hopes they can win promotion next season.
The Welshman, 68, was sacked as Owls boss in December 2020 after winning just one of his 10 matches in charge, leaving them second from bottom of the Championship and three points from safety. However, Pulis had inherited a tough situation. Wednesday had been handed a 12-point deduction, which was eventually reduced to six, before he was appointed, among other off-field issues.
Pulis had never been relegated in his managerial career, and had enjoyed a lot of success, most notably at Stoke City. At the time he was seen as a strong appointment to help Wednesday avoid the drop but he could not shrug off a poor start and he departed. The ex-Gillingham boss was in charge of Wednesday during Covid when fans could not attend matches but they clearly still made a positive impression on him.
“I had the shortest period of my career at Sheffield Wednesday but I know it was a special club,” he told BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds. “It’s one of the great clubs of British football, traditionally.
“They had a full house for the last game of the season. Unbelievable when you think of what all those supporters have gone through. Frightening. But they're there for life. That's the thing. It's the same in every club across the country. Your dad stamps you with his club when you’re born and it passes on through and that really resonates with the people of Sheffield where generations of fans have gone before.
“Unfortunately, it's not been very good for this generation. They're most probably cursing their parents! But that's how it is. Once you’ve got your club, you stick with that club for life. That’s why it’s all so tribal in England.”
After Pulis left, Wednesday went on to be relegated to League One, which is where they will play their football again next season. They are among the early favourites to go straight back up and Pulis believes it would be a nice reward for their loyal supporters.
He added: It’d be absolutely fantastic if Wednesday could bounce back on the first go and take themselves back up into the Championship next season. It’s what their fans deserve. “