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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."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd27176438172155
2Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
3Burnley27141123192253
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2712693124742
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom27914433221141
7Middlesbrough27118844341041
8Watford27125103837141
9Bristol City2791083331237
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
11Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
12Queens Park RangersQPR2781183034-435
13Swansea CitySwansea2797113033-334
14Coventry CityCoventry2788113537-232
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2788113041-1132
16Preston North EndPreston2761382834-631
17Millwall2679102424030
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Derby CountyDerby2776143137-627
20Cardiff CityCardiff2769122941-1227
21Hull City2768132636-1026
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2775152744-1726
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


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