Former Burnley coach Stuart Gray is back with hope of Owls job

Former coach: Stuart Gray, in the technical area at Macclesfield on Tuesday, is hoping for the Sheffield Wednesday post on a permanent basis

Gray joined Burnley as part of Brian Laws’ backroom staff in January 2010, and was placed in caretaker charge at Turf Moor at the end of the year, after Laws’ departure.

He had four games at the helm, winning two and drawing one, and spent time on Eddie Howe’s staff before leaving in the summer of 2011.

Gray took over at Hillsborough as caretaker from David Jones in December, with the Owls six points adrift of safety in the Championship.

But 14 points from eight games have seen Wednesday move four points clear of the relegation zone.

Gray’s side won 4-1 at Macclesfield Town in their FA Cup replay on Tuesday night, on the back of Saturday’s 6-0 mauling of Leeds at Hillsborough - the club’s biggest league win since May 1987.

But he still waits patiently for chairman Milan Mandaric to hand him the reins full-time.

Another win tomorrow would make it difficult for Mandaric to ignore Gray’s credentials, and the former Southampton boss said: “From the outside looking in, you’d probably think you beat Leeds 6-0, so there’s every chance I would get the job.

“I’m in dialogue with the chairman. We speak on a regular basis.

“For some reason, whatever, he’s decided not to give me the job at this moment in time.

“I was very disappointed when Dave (Jones) lost his job. I was asked to take charge.

“The brief was to get out of the bottom three, which we have done.

“We’re getting clean sheets and we’re scoring goals.

“We’ve scored eight in the last two home games, and got two clean sheets. I just want to cast all the credit on the players: they deserve it.

“The performance and result on Saturday felt great for everybody and gave everybody at the club a lift.”

Gray added: “I’ve got to keeping winning and take excuses away, then, I suppose, that’s all I can do.

“It’s down to his decision what goes on. On that touchline, on the pitch, that’s my organisation, what goes on upstairs in the boardroom is entirely the chairman’s prerogative.”

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