Sheffield Wednesday News 24/7Writer: NicNac 
Date:Thursday March 1 2012
Time: 10:19AM
UK time is: 04:46:52
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Goodbye, Gary Megson
It was with total shock I read the tweet from my Rochdale supporting mate: "Sacking your manager after a derby win, what`s that all about? #SWFC #madness".
It was about 10pm and I wasn`t compos mentis. I`d fallen asleep watching the England match (ha!), and had dragged myself up to bed afterwards. In my groggy state, the tweet didn`t make any sense.
Megson sacked? Nah, he`ll be winding me up. Even Mandaric wouldn`t do something as crazy as that, would he?
But he has.
I was in shock and couldn`t go to sleep until nearly midnight. Checking the official site, twitter, Vital, just for any more snippets of news. I woke up this morning and it wasn`t all a dream, it`s still real.
So it is with a heavy heart that we have to bid farewell to one of our own. A Wednesdayite, who despite me being disappointed with his appointment in the first place, had won me over with his unmistakable passion for The Wednesday.
To say I was gutted would be an understatement, and that just goes to show you how good of a job Gary must`ve been doing. It may not have been his style of football that won us over, but the results (particularly before Christmas) and his enthusiasm for the club did.
Now in the cold light of day, you realise we have to move on. There`s nothing we can do about it now, it`s not like Milan is going to change his mind and welcome him back with open arms. And here, maybe, is the crux of the matter; the relationship between a manager and a chairman.
The love between the team, the fans and Megson was palpable on Sunday. It seems obvious now that the love did not exist (or had at least waned) between Megson and Mandaric. Whether Megson felt he wasn`t being backed sufficiently to achieve the target of automatic promotion, or whether it was just a personality clash, or both, we`ll probably never find out.
All that`s left to say is thank you Gary, and goodbye. I wish you well wherever you go next.
And as for his replacement? Dave Jones? Nope. McCarthy? Nope. Lee Clark? No thanks! Paul Ince, Di Canio, Worthington… the list goes on. All I can think is that any replacement who would be 'better` than Megson isn`t going to drop to the third tier. I would actually quite like Sean O`Driscoll to be given a chance (having seen some of the football played under him at Donny), but I think Mandaric is going to want someone more experienced and 'proven` at a higher level.
Whoever it may be, with an announcement likely to be made before our match against Rochdale on Saturday (ironically), he must be waiting in the wings already. And we have to back him, and the team. We are, after all, all Wednesday aren`t we?
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Your Comments
I think you've just about covered it there, NicNac. I've read all the posts and most of the news bulletins and I'm still struggling to be honest. I've attempted half a dozen responses myself and deleted every one for being either offensive, libellous or just plain unprintable. What I can say though is this: MY 2011/12 season ended last night. The owner will bring in his next contestant and I couldn't care less. I've supported this club since I was ten and I'll continue to support it till I die. Right now though, I'm being asked to put my heart and soul behind Sheffield Mandaric FC and I can't do it. My faith has been shot to pieces. Never mind, 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life' and all that, he'll have moved on to his next 'project' in another couple of years, I just hope he leaves us in better shape than Portsmouth are in now.
OurMaurice
OurMaurice sums up what most fans are thinking and NicNac is right about the next manager. Are we really likely to get a better manager than GM when you look at the reality of what MM seems to be demanding? We're now 5 points off automatic promotion with more games played and an inferior goal difference to all of the rest of the top six. If the new manager is appointed on the basis of automatic promotion being expected, then this is just a 13 game contract. Why would anyone of quality and integrity (by that I mean not just taking the job for the inevitable payoff when sacked) want the job?
Prestonowl
What's Sven upto these days ?
Or brace yourselves ; Because i think it might be Clarke who arrives.
That would shake a few dormant underachievers
Kettering OWL 1963
You can only feel sorry for Megson and I can't believe this has happened either. We need stability and a manager needs a chance. If MM had gone all out for Marshall and Alfie etc and had the recent results, derby game aside, then I might have understood this a little, although probably not, but MM didn't plough the transfer cash in when it was needed most but still expected results to keep getting better. The problem here is that this is the Mandaric way and he hasn't been through all the ups/downs and changing managers/divisions that we have for the last 12 years so he has no idea how refreshing it was for us to have megson in charge and to finally look like a decent improving side. Whatever happens now? I really don't know MM can keep the next manager on if he doesn't achieve automatic promotion in 13 games and then loses in the play-offs. How can that be a good case for asking the same man to get us promotion from league 1 next season? As for Bolton fans - go away and move on. We don't care and never did. Good Luck Gary.
baldowl
Well said, and thanks, NicNac. I think two things here make this an especially hard blow for us fans. 1. Being brought down to such a low after such a high. Coming off the heals of wining the derby with our heads in the clouds, only to come crashing down with this news (I can't imagine how that must have been for GM!), is both hard to take and to wrap one's head around. 2. Having a guest (MM) giving the boot to one of our own (GM), is probably worse for me. I'm grateful for Mandaric taking over our debt and I believe that he has our clubs best interests at heart (however misguided I believe yesterday's decision was), but at the end of the day, he's a tourist. Yes, he's a Wednesday fan, now, but when he eventually sells the club he'll support whatever other team he buys. The commitment and the love for the team isn't heart and soul. Gary, on the other hand, he's dyed in the wool Blue and White, from child fan, to player, to a manager with real heart. You just can't buy that sort of thing. Even if MM were making the right decision, which I don't think he is, that second point is a pretty tough pill to swallow.
Colorado Owl
My wife and I looked at each other in shock and awe last night laughing nervously at the mere suggestion he'd gone. We switched rapidly to Sky sports news to have it confirmed while our dodgy internet tried to load the SWFC website. I have only been a member of the Wednesday family 6 years now and this decision has shaken me but not my faith which remains unaffected. Afterall I support the club, the team, the players, the manager and last the chairman. It saddens me he's gone... We all know it's the wrong call as even if you put 'Arry in now he can't change the players or dramatically alter the style of play to secure the automatic promotion spot. The players will have been spurred on as it's clear that Milan will do what he wants and if you don't do well enough in regards to his expectations you are out the door. I wanted more than anything stability for the club as I've witnessed bad decision after bad decision in the past and the fall of our great club to the depths of last season. I was proud of this season and what we had achieved and hope that who ever comes in can carry on Gary's good work get us up via the play-offs or an automatic spot and claim all the credit. I for one though will not forget what Gary has done for us and wish him well. UTGMO How Milan ever thought Gary was going to compete with the lack of support is beyond me... We are third afterall behind the 20 player purchase club and the remains of an (admitedly crap)championship side none the less, they got relegated with better players than we did I think we can agree. So Megson for me was doing the best he could and for me that was good enough. WAWAW I really hope that Milan can prove us wrong but he's really going to have to go some to do that!!! WTID
4evaOWL
Good luck Gary blue and white through and through.Unlike previous managers at our great club you can walk away with heavy heart but the unusual send off of been surrounded by 30 thousand singing your praises and thanking you for a great day out last Sunday (and many more at home). Strange way to end off at s6 but you leave on a high. All the best!!!!!
DecorOWL
Good article, think it sums up how most of us feel. If I'm honest, I just feel kind of numb about the whole situation. As others, I admit I was not blown away when Meggo was appointed but he has definitely turned me around. Now we are by far not the finished article but, we're moving in the right direction which was evident as all the positive vibes coming from the fans and S6 were showing. As for his replacement, well good luck on filling them boots, they're MASSIVE, an ex player and a Wednesdayite to boot. I would like to wish Mr Gary Megson all the luck in the world and hope he goes on to get success at a different club, he deserves it. As for MM, well at this point, no comment. I'm sure I'll come round when the dust has settled, I always do, but currently I'm annoyed. Having given him our faith and trust, it does feel a bit like a stab in the back. I hope he will be honest in telling us the reason and not just this poor performance excuse. Ah well, rant over I guess. As per normal, UTO WTID. GOOD LUCK MEGGO, YOU'LL BE MISSED.
Owlsmad
P.s. just one suggestion, Bully! He played in all eleven positions so I'm sure he can handle managing the team as well. Lee Lee Lee Bullen! Wednesday Legend! UTO WTID.
Owlsmad
P.p.s. just trying to make light of the situation. UTO WTID.
Owlsmad
It's starting to sound like the death of Diana ffs, grown men unable to sleep blubberin like blunts and big girls blouses. Give it a rest. Megson isn't dead, nor is he the first popular hardworking Wednesday manager to get sacked. Anyone remember Sturrock? The truth is Mandy went against his own usual practice by not firing him 6 months ago. He's had a full year in charge and if David Hirst is right that at home to Stevenage a few days ago was the worst Wednesday performance he's seen in "twenty years" then no amount of blue and white pumping through yer veins gives you the right to manage OUR club. Does anyone seriously think that if Wilson gets automatic promotion there'll be a single blunt whinnying coz the manager isn't a blade??! Man up fellow Wednesdayites n dry yer eyes! As a fan Megson will always be welcome at S6 and he knows it but he was never the right manager for this club WTID
ng a passionate wednesdayite and we should give him life long membership
Megson_Out
Megson_Out re: "grown men unable to sleep blubberin like blunts and big girls blouses." I'm a girl :) And what's your problem with my blouse?
NicNac
I don't hear any blubbering. I can hear disbelief and regret. Anger? That too. There's some gnashing of teeth going on, but mostly it's the views of fans trying to come to terms with a decision that's hard to justify given the lame excuses we're being fed. But then, wait... What's that? I can just make out a solitary little voice away in the back. It sounds like laughter coming from someone who's been bearing a grudge for far too long and feels that now is the time to remind us he'd 'told us so' from the beginning. Deep down, we know Meggo's departure has nothing to do with automatic promotion or 'style of play'. If a new manager comes in and wins promotion through the playoffs then that's only what we'd have fancied Meggo to achieve anyway. And if he doesn't, he'll probably be out of a job. Next season? If we're in the Championship MM will probably sell to the highest bidder. That's probably the extent of his ambition. Onwards and upwards, eh?
OurMaurice
Megsons no idiot, he saw this one coming and has already lined up a job with Sky. Good luck Meggo fitting that first satelitte dish on Monday!
Radon Barrier
NicNac ya blouse is lovely... defo your colour!! (I can say that through the floods of tears!!) lol
4evaOWL
OurMaurice we knew this day would come where the "I told you so!" would echo the halls being that there at times has been a chorus of positive attitudes flooding the other way!! Look on the brightside name change is on the horizon, although I guess it will have to wait till the new appointment. (So we know who we shouldn't get behind next!) WAWAW
4evaOWL
None of us agreed with what town did to Lee Clark at the time... this from the outside looks to make even less sense. The idea that a replacement was being interviewed while Gary was still in the job sickens me. Football aside that's no way to treat a person... I'd like MM to come out and tell us the truth, if he wants our trust and support he needs to trust us with the truth. I think Milan doing what he has makes us look like a risk to any manager worth anything... I'm not saying all the good managers are in work but if Milan hasn't been prepared to invest in the squad in January while fighting his court case. Why is he seemingly now willing to probably pay off Gary and get someone new in. If I was the manager coming in I would insist on buy-out clauses that gave me until the end of next season as a minimum but how is that going to help the club if Milan gets it wrong??! UTO
4evaOWL
Oh hold on the poll says 15% agree with the sacking... Megson_out must have two sign in names and only 15 people must have voted so far!! lol WTID
4evaOWL
Haha :D
NicNac
Good luck, at whichever team is lucky enough to get you Gary!
S12 OWL
The Wednesdayite (man or woman) in the street and Milan Mandaric live, think and feel on different planets. No amount of 'reassurance' from the top can change that.
cheshire cat
Oh ... dear, I see we've got a caretaker. It gets worse.
cheshire cat
Milan has said on Hallam this afternoon he hopes to appoint Gary's replacement tomorrow at some point. They are interviewing for the post... One full day of interviews... Errmmm me thinks it's a done deal!! Was probably sorted out before Sunday... WTID
4evaOWL
Apparently, we're now being led to believe it was "...the best decision for our supporters. It was not done for me or anyone else, it was done for the best of the club." Which makes me think our owner must be seriously deluded as I'd expect a habitual liar to sound more convincing. Someone pass me the sick bag.
OurMaurice
I can only assume that MM has someone waiting in the wings who he thinks can do a better job.
SeattleOWL
GM's words from BBC: He continued: "When I said I always wanted the Wednesday job it was because I wanted to work in front of those supporters. "It was the first thing I said to new players coming in. "It hurts more than any other disappointment I've had in my life."
I believe him, too!
Colorado Owl
Still in a state of shock. I echo what every true owl is feeling at the moment. O.k the results of late wasn't in the masterplan, but the victory on sunday against the berties was just the tonic, which may spur us on for the last 13 games. I only hope that the new guy is DJ (who couldn't take Cardiff all the way), or PI what experience have these two clowns got in managing a big club? These two canidates are deffo not big names.
Would just like to thank Gary Megson and good luck for the future, don't think you'll be out of work long.
Gary Megsons barmy army!!!!!!!
WTID.
Hereford Owl
Its going to be Dave Jones. I think Billy Davies would be better! Does well everywhere he goes! But Jones will be appointed tomorrow.
wrighty-swfc
None of this makes any sense. MM was a big fan of meggo and he's given him less time and backing than irvine who was useless. Whilst it wasn't glorious football it was starting to remind me of wilko in the late 80s. I think meggo has demonstrated that he can spot a good player and that he is a good manager. The transfer window is closed and none of the candidates are awe inspiring so it makes no sense. Undoubtedly the man most likely to take us up this year is meggo. I've read up about dave jones and he seems the best candidate but not enough to sack meggo. Don't know whether to laugh or cry
Radon Barrier
Well we better get automatic promotion then, cos DJ can't do it in the play-offs.
Hereford Owl
Ok guys Lets be positive
Here's the timeline
1) Get behind the team 100% til the end of the season and be promoted.
2) Hold your breath that MM can sell quickly
3) New owner comes in dismisses whichever interloper is appointed
4 He then re appoints Gary
tommacandernie
Dave bloody jones!!!! I actually feel sick, we've sacked the best manager we've had In a while, to be replaced by someone whose not as good IMO. some results were poor but it's disgusting how the clubs operated, ubdermining the manager and especially at such a crucial time, no wonder the players mobbed meggo when we scored they must of known. nothing less than automatic promotion for me now, hope he's worth it or the boo boys will be back.
OWL25
Urgh, I had a lovely tea tonight. Just seen it all over again because i've seen the news that Dave (can't do better than the playoffs) Jones is taking charge in the morning!!! I might end up liking the guy and I hope he at least brings a more attractive style of football. Don't get me wrong, I think we were daft to get rid of Meggo, but, we have, so lets hope we A) go up and B) start playing some attractive football.
Balli80
Hi I am a Charlton supporter.....if truth be told Megson may or may not have been the one to get you promoted....you will never know...what is fact is that I have never seen him so happy and smiley after beating the Blades...it meant a lot to him...trouble is Mandaric wants tomorrow today....even Harry had enough of him at Portsmouth and walked out....I think mandaric has made a big mistake....Like him or loathe him...Megson is a good manager...best wishes for the run in but I think it's another year in the third tier for you guys....
weloveyoucharlton
Maybe Jones could get Koumas to join us, he's still unattatched, therefore can be signed I think. Would help improve the style of play!
If it is Dave Jones as it looks, then now is not the time to say argue about him being the right choice or whether sacking Meggo was right or wrong, NOW IS THE TIME TO GET BEHIND THE BOYS TO GET MIN 10 WINS FROM LAST 13.
Swindon just won 10 on bounce so it can be done!!
UTO WTID
Bexy1977
I've just spotted the Jones appointment on WIKIPEDIA on DJ's entry there, then found it (13minutes after it was posted) by Googling the usual news agencies. Never thought Wiki would be so up to date - someones's on the ball; perhaps it was MM.
cheshire cat
I can't remember a time when the thought of a new manager didn't excite me at the prospects of them helping us move forward. While the new manager will get my full support I don't believe they will do more for us than Megson. All the best to you and thank you for helping to move this club forward
AuzzieOwl
And if things weren't bad enough, you can forget about changing your name to Jones_Out, you'll just find yourself tagged at the end of a wait list that originated in Cardiff about three years ago.
OurMaurice
i think jones would be a good manager for us
Hirsty's Shinpads
OK, Megson was loved because he was a wednesdayite, but MM is the boss of a business and he wouldn’t be paying Megson off, unless he had to. If there is personality conflicts, then the chairman/owner is going to win out, and to build a football club there has to be a strong healthy relationship between management & chairman. Disappointing is how I feel more than anything, I just hope Jones can get things working. So back to the football, we have a winnable game on Sat and then 2 winnable home games, while United have 3 away games on the trot now, so next 3 games are the key.
owl1
Still quite shocked by all this to be honest has done a decent job since he came here was like meggo said we were 15th when he fist came in and now we are 3rd was starting to get the best out of players to i.e johnson madine etc Still dont think Dave Jones is the answer time well tell
retfordowl1867
i herd yesterday that megson fell out with aldridge and milan took aldridges side, i think aldridge is the problem at hillsborough, he wasn't happy with megson's team selection against Blackpool, a win there woulld have brought more money into the club.
tommy craig
So BBC Radio Sheffield says its Dave Jones.
He was the big rumour just over a week ago.
MM then denied everything.
Megson gets sacked after beating Utd.
Dave Jones gets appointed.
MM says we should trust him.
Which dictionary does MM use to find the meaning of "trust"?
I bet Gary Megson can't find a copy of it.
Anyway, hope Dave Jones has a mobile home - I can't see him being here very long.
I think the fans lovefest with MM could be over. We'll always be grateful for him saving the club - but lets be realistic - history says he'll sell the club sooner or later just like he has done previously.
Prestonowl
I don't support Wednesday but I do support football. I wrote the match report for the Morecambe v Owls game which so many of you appreciated. Getting rid of Gary Megson is the best thing that has happened to your club: he has been a disaster for the Beautiful Game everywhere he has gone. You've got some good players and Dave Jones will get the best out of them. Wednesday might actually be worth watching again. Good luck for the rest of the season...
drog
**** off, there's a good drog.
OurMaurice
You have to question a decision to sack any manager who is seemingly getting results, has a high percentage of fans backing him, and even in accepting that Megson doesnt play the beautiful game, is it reallly sensible to get rid as this stage of a season in the position you are in.
Oxfordspur
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