Dean Smith is one of the frontrunners to replace Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday after the manager’s shock departure
from the club.
Dean Smith, a former manager of Aston Villa, is a candidate to take over as Sheffield Wednesday’s manager after they are
promoted to the Championship.
After a thrilling League One play-off run, the Owls secured their place in the second division by overturning a 4-0 first-leg
deficit against Peterborough United in the semifinal.
Former manager Darren Moore oversaw the remarkable comeback. Josh Windass’ goal in the 123rd minute gave them a 1-0
victory over Barnsley in the championship game.
Despite his heroics, Moore left the Yorkshire club just weeks after promotion in a shock decision that the club attributed to
‘mutual consent’.
Chairman Dejphon Chansiri told the club website: “Both parties believe that now is the right time we go our separate ways.
“The journey of Sheffield Wednesday with Darren has been in many ways unique and always as a team. In the football
industry, journeys come to an end and now is that time, which we both agree.
“The mutual respect we have for each other is immense on a personal and professional basis and I offer my sincere thanks
for the dedication and commitment Darren has given to our club. Darren will always be welcome at Hillsborough.”
The decision has left Sheffield Wednesday needing to appoint a new manager ahead of next year’s Championship campaign and, a week on from Moore’s departure, the post is still vacant.
Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is one of the frontrunners to take the role at Hillsborough having been left without
a job after failing to keep strugglers Leicester City in the Premier League last season.
Smith spent three years at Villa Park between 2018 and 2021, taking the club from 15th place in the Championship to the
Premier League in his first season. A famous relegation scalp followed in 2020 as the club managed to maintain its Premier
League status despite drifting four points from safety with four fixtures to play. Smith labelled survival a ‘magnificent
achievement’.
The boss then led the side to an 11th-placed Premier League finish before a run of five straight defeats early in the next
season saw him dismissed.
Smith is 6/1 to land the vacant Sheffield Wednesday role with Paul Ince (6/4) and Giuseppe Iachini (9/4) as the two
frontrunners. Ince was most recently with Reading who were relegated from the Championship last season amid financial
punishment woes and Iachini recently worked a short spell at Italia club Parma.
READ MORE :
Contact made between Sheffield Wednesday and 59-year-old manager
Would Giuseppe Iachini be a good appointment for Sheffield Wednesday?
Iachini would be an intriguing appointment for the Owls.
He is clearly a talented coach and his impressive track record of promotions from the Italian second division could make
him well-equipped for the Championship.
However, Iachini would be a huge risk as he has only ever managed in Italy and given the fact that he has not stayed in jobs
for a long period of time, he would be unlikely to provide the stability Wednesday desperately need.
Iachini would be too much of a gamble for Wednesday as a newly-promoted side entering what is likely to be an incredibly
competitive Championship and they should consider alternatives.
Leave a Reply