Sam Allardyce linked with Sheffield Wednesday vacancy
by Jack Kitson / 12 June 2015, 08:30Tweet
Sam Allardyce may have missed out on the Sunderland job, but he could soon be back in the dugout with Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, after he was installed as the early 6/4 (Bet Victor) favourite to succeed Stuart Gray.
Wednesday sacked Gray on Thursday after 18-months at Hillsborough. The Owls appointed Gray as their permanent manager back in January 2014, following a successful two-month spell as caretaker boss, which included a stunning 6-0 win over Yorkshire rivals Leeds, and progression through to the 5th Round of the FA Cup. Gray went on to successfully keep the club in the Championship following an impressive 16th place finish, a position the club topped in 2014/15 (13th).
However, club chairman Dejphon Chansiri is desperate to lead Wednesday back up to the Premier League, and he didn't feel that Gray was the man to achieve this lofty goal, considering that the Owls finished last season 18 points adrift of the play-offs.
Allardyce would undoubtedly be a decent appointment, having previously led both West Ham and Bolton up to the top-flight. The former Hammers boss was hotly linked with the Sunderland vacancy, however Dick Advocaat made the surprise decision to re-join the club, signing a one-year year deal.
Big Sam is believed to be keen to return to the management arena, but may not be willing to make the step down to Championship level. Meanwhile, former Watford head coach Slavisa Jokanovic is also in the running in the Next Sheff Wed Manager Market, as are the likes of ex-Brentford boss Mark Warburton, Gus Poyet and Paul Lambert.
