WEDNESDAY stand at a crossroads at the start of a fresh season.
An exciting new era could be about to open up.
Or will they be on the route for further struggles on the pitch and more turmoil off it?
There is nothing wrong with a dose of optimism
There is evidence to suggest that the Owls should improve on last season's results and performances.
Although Brian Laws, in view of the club's underlying financial problems, has not been able to splash out on costly new players during the summer, his signings of James O'Connor and Jimmy Smith could be astute, and the squad can welcome back Akpo Sodje, Francis Jeffers, Frankie Simek and Marcus Tudgay, who all missed last season's run-in when five loan players were needed to shore up the team.
Not all of last season's injured stars are going to be ready to be plunged into the first game of the season against Burnley tomorrow - for example, Jeffers and Simek, and any players who have been out for a long time may have to play their way back to top form in the type of intense action only league games can bring.
But given even an average rub of the green with injuries over the course of the season - in contrast to the continual blows that robbed the Owls of more than just the above-mentioned four in 2007-08 - Wednesday should have a stronger side this time.
In a division reknowned for being one where anybody can beat anybody, where that may lead is anybody's guess.
Their chances of being a surprise package cannot be dismissed - Bristol City's fortunes last season have set an example to all those teams who are looking to improve this season.
Wednesday should certainly be capable of avoiding the prolonged struggle that they had to endure in 2007-08.
The club finished 16th last time, spurting up the table thanks to their last-day win against Norwich. It a sobering thought that if they had lost they would have gone down.
Wednesday could end up in mid-table this time, and that would be progress.
The competition may be more intense than ever.
Six clubs are still getting multi-million-pound parachute payments after their relegation from the Premier League over the last couple of years and there are significant others in the division with lofty ambitions and more money than Wednesday.
All of this has been reflected by the transfer activity in the Championship during the summer.
Last season's spring run of only one defeat in 13 games suggested that Wednesday already had the defensive solidity on which they can build - and with Simek still to come back.
The fact that nine of those matches were draws reflects the other problem that bedevilled them all season, other than injuries - a shortage of goals.
But Sodje can be a rampaging force. He produced a run of seven goals in 10 appearances, before he was cruelly taken away by injury in mid-season. He is now back.
Jeffers is a quality player - if he returns to form and fitness.
Tudgay was top scorer, at the time he was ruled out for the last nine games of 2007-08.
Deon Burton, who was down the pecking order for a chunk of last season, found a new lease of life and, during the summer matches for Wednesday and Jamaica, seems to have been carrying on where he left off in May.
Additional backing comes from the surprise end-of season hero, Leon Clarke, who looks in the best physical shape of his Hillsborough career.
He would, though, I suspect, be allowed to leave if someone wants to buy him, as it would free up money that could be used in other areas.
Midfield, a bit of a problem department last season, has Sean McAllister emerging and O'Connor and Smith arriving.
It has been an unusual pre-season in that the takeover saga proved at least as big a talking point as football matters and raised many questions that have been talked about among fan.
For example, who are Geoff Sheard's backers? How much money do they have to invest in the club and pay off directors' loans? Is there legal proof of funds? Could the club end up with a new majority shareholder but without the £40 million that has been talked about? Would Sheard still do a better job than the current regime even without massive financial backing?
The Owls kicked off this final week of the close season still with a debt millstone, still with no chairman, and still, officially, looking for a buyer, though with Sheard still keeping up his determined pursuit.
Could 2008-09 see the start of a new, successful era?
It should be a fascinating season on and off the field.
OWLS (possible): Grant; Hinds, Wood, Beevers, Spurr; Tudgay, O'Connor, McAllister or Watson, Johnson or Esajas; Sodje, Burton (4-4-2).
BURNLEY (possible): Penny; Alexander, Duff, Caldwell, Kalvenes; van der Schaaf, McCann; Elliott, Eagles, Blake; Paterson
(4-2-3-1).
Sheffield Wednesday: Preview for the season, including ins and outs and squad numbers. Don't miss Saturday's Green'Un newspaperWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 907 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
