Darren Moore admits 'physical and mental' pain of Sheffield Wednesday exit

07 January 2024 , 07:45

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Darren Moore left Sheffield Wednesday in June (Image: PA)

Darren Moore says his "body just felt like a ton" after leaving Sheffield Wednesday - but insists he has no bitterness.

‌Huddersfield boss Moore achieved a miracle last season when he led Wednesday back from a 4-0 first-leg defeat to Peterborough at London Road to the biggest comeback in play-off history by beating them 5-1 at Hillsborough. The Owls then won 5-3 on penalties.

Moore's side completed their famous play-off campaign by beating local rivals Barnsley in the final, with Josh Windass scoring a 123rd-minute winner at Wembley. But just days later, Moore was axed as manager in a decision which shocked football.

Yet the former West Brom defender and manager refuses to look back on his Wednesday exit, even if he does recall the physical and mental impact. Moore tells Mirror Football: "Yeah, it was a surprise. Did I expect it to happen? No. Did it happen? Yes.

"But you understand that it part of the game. Did I expect it to happen at West Brom? Did it happen? Yes. And it is part of the game and I’ve learnt that it’s football.

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‌"It took it out of me physically and mentally. My body just felt like a ton. Everything was really heavy. Your body is aching. But you end up picking yourself back up after thinking you don’t want to do anything. But no bitterness. Not at all.

"Because if you have bitterness and envy, you end up carrying it with you. All you ever want is to say the time we had there, we did a good job and the feeling it brought to everyone as a time. That is all I wanted, as a player or at a club.

Moore's last game in charge of Wednesday was the League One play-off final victory (Getty Images)

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"Now I can go back to any one of my clubs and get a round of applause, only because they associate me with working hard and giving my all for the club."

Moore returned to football as Huddersfield boss in September and is battling Wednesday for Championship survival. He's won just three of his 19 games in charge, a record that's expected to become three in 20 when they travel to Manchester City on Sunday.

The Terriers will need a miracle to beat Pep Guardiola's Treble winners, who defeated local rivals Manchester United in last June's FA Cup final. City go into Sunday's game in good form, having beaten Everton and Sheffield United in their last two league games.

As for Huddersfield, they suffered a 4-1 loss at Leicester on New Year's Day. Yet they did win as recently as Boxing Day, beating Blackburn 3-0 at home.

John Cross