Danny Rohl admits he was flattered to be named among the favourites to be new Southampton manager this week but - having now been overtaken in the odds by Ivan Juric - he has told Sheffield Wednesday supporters "the most important thing" is that he didn't leave in the end.
Rohl, who previously coached at Southampton, has won admirers as a number one thanks to his work at Hillsborough since inheriting a team seemingly plummeting towards League One in October last year.
He kept them in the Championship despite pundits' predictions to the contrary and is now hoping to nudge the team up towards the play-off places.
There was panic among the fan base when Russell Martin was sacked at Southampton last weekend but Rohl has ultimately stayed and will take charge of a home game against Stoke City on Saturday (12.30pm).
He said at his pre-match press conference: “I think the most important key point is that I’m here, that I’ll take the game tomorrow.
“It’s always an honour when you’re linked with Premier league clubs, and people know my history (at Southampton), it was a part of my life. But the most important key point is the game tomorrow.
“My decision is clear, I will stay here at Sheffield Wednesday. The club knows my ambitions, I think we have agreed that we want to improve and attack higher positions in the table and we know what that means in January…. I’m here, I love this club, I love the supporters and I love my team. We’ve achieved a lot, but our journey is not over. We’ll try to keep improving as a team.”
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