"Watch us climb" - New Sheffield Wednesday coach Craig Gardner bullish in first Owls interview

Craig Gardner has joined the club’s coaching staff having left Birmingham City earlier this week and makes the transition from Pulis player to Pulis coach after playing under the Welshman at West Brom.

The former England under-21 midfielder suggested that Pulis’ personality and ability to bring a club together can be a big factor in turning around what has been a disappointing start to the Owls’ season.

“It’s a massive club and an opportunity to work with Tony again,” Gardner told swfc.co.uk on why he has joined the club. “It’s a good opportunity to get this club going again.

“We need to get some positivity back and get ourselves climbing back up the league.

“I was a player under him [Pulis] at West Brom. It’s the way he works, the way he gets everyone together; the players, the staff, the fans. I think that’s what this club needs at the minute, it needs that togetherness. Watch us climb.

“The way he treats people, it doesn’t matter if you’re a player or a coach, he keeps everyone together as one big family. This is a massive club with a great future. I can’t wait to get started.”

Gardner is unlikely to be the last man through the door as the new manager seeks to ‘bring in his own people’ as part of wholesale changes to the club’s coaching staff.

The 33-year-old only retired from a hugely successful playing career that saw him play for Birmingham, Aston Villa and Sunderland as well as West Brom.

“I’d rather be a young coach than an old player,” he said on his decision to retire. “I’ve got goals and ambitions and when I spoke to Tony, he talked me into it and I know he will be a success here, I want to be a part of that success.

“They’re a great bunch of lads, not only the players but the staff. There are some good, honest people here. We can’t wait to get the foundations and the structure right and we’ll be flying.”

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