Jones looks to placate fans after Sheffield Wednesday appointment

The former Cardiff, Wolves and Southampton manager has been unveiled as the Owls’ successor to Gary Megson at a press conference on Friday.

Jones takes over with Wednesday third in League One and very much alive in the race for promotion to the Championship.

Jones has a wealth of experience having taken charge of nearly 800 senior games during a 15-year managerial career.

His first role came with Stockport in 1995 and he guided them to the second tier prior to joining Southampton, earning the LMA Premiership manager of the year award in 1998 during his three years on the south coast.

Jones then moved to Wolves in 2001 and claimed promotion to the Premier League before further success with Cardiff.

During his time in south Wales, Jones led Cardiff to the FA Cup final in 2008, losing to Portsmouth, and the play-off final two years later only to suffer further heartache as they lost to Blackpool.

Chairman Milan Mandaric said: “Dave is a very successful football manager and I am delighted to welcome him to Sheffield Wednesday.

“It was essential we made a swift appointment with 13 games to go this season and I am convinced we have the right man for this job.

“I like his style of football and his approach to the game but more than anything else, he is a builder of clubs and he will help to galvanise Sheffield Wednesday.

“His first objective is to get us out of League One and back into the Championship and then rebuild the club for the Premier League.

“I always look for someone who shares my ambitions and my objectives and Dave Jones is that man.”

Jones was very conscious of the need to placate supporters angered by the dismissal of Megson when the new manager met the media this afternoon.

He said: “I am asking supporters to continue to get behind the team and that’s what ultimately matters.

“If you just look at the numbers coming through the turnstiles you will see, this is a massive club.

“The most important thing now is to focus and build on where the club is now to push forward.

“I have to make sure the fans continue to come to games and enjoy them and that’s what I will try my best to do.

“I hope the supporters get behind what the players have achieved so far and continue to push them on.”

Keep checking the website for more on this story, and for the full verdict read Saturday’s Yorkshire Post.