Paul Sturrock will always be remembered as the man who finally brought an end to almost a decade of heartbreak for Wednesday fans. The Play-Off final success in Cardiff in May 2006 will be etched in the memories of every fan for years to come.

Chris Turner was given the chop just two months into the new season in 2004 after a less than promising start when expectations were so high of a return to the second tier of English football. Turner was perhaps lucky to even start the season in charge, after an awful first season in Wednesday's first season at the third level since the late 70s.

Sturrock arrived at Hillsborough after a somewhat bizarre brief spell in charge with Southampton. The Scot was at the reigns for just 13 games before being told he was no longer needed. Sturrock knew the Saints were wrong. He had had blinding success with Plymouth Argyle in the lower divisions, having helped them climb two divisions in successive seasons and collecting a Manager of the Year title along the way.

A 3-0 win at Wrexham in his first game in charge spelt a great start for the former Dundee United figure. A run of just one defeat in 18 from December through to February put Wednesday in serious contention for promotion, but by the time Chris Turner returned to Hillsborough in April with Stockport County were winless in seven and in danger of blowing the hopes of going up.

Sturrock had aquired the services of experienced forward James Quinn in the New Year and it was he who scored a priceless winner at Hull City in the penultimate game of the season to help the Owls finish in a play-off birth.

The rest is history but that sunny afternoon in Cardiff meant Sturrock, for most Owls fans, is held in the same regard as Ron Atkinson was when Wednesday beat Manchester United as underdogs in the 1991 League Cup final.

The following season was a different story altogether. Now the expectations were much lower - just keep the club at Championship level. Despite a large turnaround in personnel and an average squad at his disposal Sturrock achieved his targets thanks to a late flurry of results in the final month of the season.

Sturrock's signings were somewhat hit and miss during the 05/06 season and for the first time his ways were being scrutinised and questioned. Graham Coughlan, Frank Simek, Burton O'Brien, Marcus Tudgay and Deon Burton all proved to be worthy signings. But Rangers full-back Maurice Ross made just two appearances before being shipped out of Hillsborough and David Graham, who set the Owls back £350,000, was a miserable failure in front of goal scoring just three times in 26 appearances.

The Owls started the 2006/07 season similar to how they finished the previous season and just one win in their first 10 league games was not up to the standard required for Wednesday to progress. A 4-1 defeat at home to Wrexham, ironically the club he had enjoyed success at in his debut game at the reigns, spelt serious trouble for Wednesday and for Sturrock.

The final straw was a 4-0 demolition defeat at lowly Colchester United. Sturrock, who was awarded a brand new five year contract just weeks earlier, was furious after the game and called for new players to be brought into the club.

Instead, 24 hours later he was out of a job. Chairman Dave Allen decided enough was enough and fresh ideas needed to be brought in, not new players.

The decision was not a popular one amongst the fans who in turn called for Allen and his board to stand down. Sturrock moved onto Swindon Town in League One and Allen began his search for his new man.