Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer has told Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that the Owls’ decision to hold onto Neil Thompson for so long was a gamble that has not paid off.

Thompson stepped in as caretaker manager following Tony Pulis’ dismissal at the end of last December but was unable to improve the relegation-threatened side’s fortunes.

Darren Moore was eventually appointed in March to permanently succeed Pulis in the Hillsborough dugout, and despite some ok results Wednesday are on the brink of going down to League One – they are three points from safety with one game remaining.

For Palmer, owner Dejphon Chansiri did not do things fast enough.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about some of the issues at Wednesday this season, Palmer said:

“I think the bit that’s killed them was, I think he [Chansiri] gambled on Neil Thompson for too long. Held on the caretaker manager, I think maybe he wanted to get to the end of the season and thought they’d be safe and then get a manager in without having to pay compensation.

“It was the wrong move. He should have got the manager in at the time. And they will be kicking themselves, they will be kicking themselves.”

Since taking over from Thompson, Moore has done fairly well in the Hillsborough dugout, picking up some big wins.

That includes the impressive 5-0 victory against Cardiff City at the start of April, so perhaps Wednesday would have been in a better position in the Championship had Chansiri made a permanent appointment earlier.