MX23RW : Monday, December 23 07:00:55| >> :120:28786:28786:

I have nothing to prove at Sheffield Wednesday, says new boss Garry Monk

Monk spent less than a year in charge at previous clubs Swansea, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Birmingham.

Sheffield Wednesday's new manager Garry Monk insisted he has nothing to prove after being unveiled as the club's permanent successor to Steve Bruce.

Monk, introduced at a hastily-arranged media gathering at Hillsborough on Friday, has only spent short periods in charge at previous clubs Swansea, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Birmingham.

The 40-year-old was sacked by Swansea, Middlesbrough and Birmingham and quit at Leeds, two days after owner Andrea Radrizzani completed his takeover.

"In terms of motivation for this club, of course I'm highly motivated, but any more than what I've ever been? No," Monk said.

"I don't think I've got anything to prove. I think I've proved in a short space of time as a manager that I know how to manage.

"I've improved numerous players and numerous teams from where I took them to where we ended with them.

"Unfortunately everything outside of that, decisions, that's out of my hands. I can't control that. That's up to other people.

"Of course there's been disappointments along the way. I've not been allowed to go longer, but I feel I've improved every single club that I've been at."

Monk was controversially sacked by Birmingham in June after 15 months in charge.

Garry Monk barks orders while in charge at Birmingham
Garry Monk barks orders while in charge at Birmingham (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The club's chief executive Xuandong Ren later claimed Monk had wanted to use his agent, James Featherstone, in all transfer deals.

Former clubs Leeds and Middlesbrough, it has been reported, made similar allegations, which Monk has refuted.

He said in a statement released in July that he was considering legal action against all three clubs.

"I will speak about that, but not today," he said. "Today's about Sheffield Wednesday. I don't want to deal with nonsense. It's not my focus.

"I will speak about that, but at the right time. Right now it's about Sheffield Wednesday, about the honour of being here, the excitement to be here and getting to work.

"That's the only thing that really matters, that's the only thing that today's about so that's what I'm looking forward to."

Former Wednesday boss Bruce quit Hillsborough in July to take charge of hometown club Newcastle, leaving first-team coach Lee Bullen in temporary charge.

The Owls have won three and lost three of their first six Sky Bet Championship matches under Bullen to sit 11th in the table.

"I know how powerful a club this is and the history and the tradition of the club," added Monk, who had a 15-game spell on loan with Wednesday as a player during the 2002/03 season.

"And I know the backing that the chairman has given the club over the years. It is a great opportunity and one I am excited about."

ID:370605: cacheID:370605:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6870:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Swansea manager Steve Cooper keeps it cool on August 10, 2019
Read Next:
Cooper praises style of players after Swansea's big win over Birmingham
>
Read more about Garry Monk Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd22155232112148
2Leeds UnitedLeeds22136341152645
3Burnley2212822891944
4Sunderland22127334181643
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2111462518737
6Middlesbrough22105738281035
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom22811326161035
8Watford2110473028234
9Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds229582830-232
10Millwall217772118328
11Swansea CitySwansea227692424027
12Bristol City226972628-227
13Norwich CityNorwich226883734326
14Queens Park RangersQPR2251072328-525
15Luton TownLuton2274112538-1325
16Derby CountyDerby2266102728-124
17Coventry CityCoventry2266102834-624
18Preston North EndPreston2241172229-723
19Stoke CityStoke2257102330-722
20Portsmouth204882535-1020
21Hull City2247112131-1019
22Cardiff CityCardiff2146111934-1518
23Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2146112137-1618
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2146112245-2318


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!