Alan Biggs: Sheffield Wednesday need a quick fix but long-term strategic change remains a must

When you analyse how a floundering club can eventually be righted, there’s one huge conflict where the January window is concerned. Assuming that the unpaid wages debacle doesn’t lead to a transfer embargo.

The squad needs an overhaul. That demands long-term planning and a clearly defined transfer strategy; for instance, identifying and developing young talent feeding through the leagues.

Yet that entirely contradicts what might be required in the short term if the club is to stay in the Championship.

You imagine that manager Tony Pulis, tasked primarily with avoiding relegation at all costs, will have some experienced players, characters and leaders - maybe trusted from past liaisons - in mind.

We’re probably talking loans or temporary deals here, some know-how, and rightly so.

Yet it’s a crunching clash with what’s needed - and what could be best afforded - in the future to turn Wednesday around.

The days of trying to buy a return to the Premier League look to be over. Dejphon Chansiri, as the owner, has to take responsibility for the club’s record via his appointments and policies. And he does. That is inescapable.

In fairness to Chansiri, he almost succeeded right at the outset. Had the Owls been promoted in either of his first two seasons, the perception of him would be very different.

Jam tomorrow doesn’t sit well with clubs of this size. Especially not with fans whose patience is understandably beyond breaking point after 20 years outside the top flight.

But my long-held opinion is that this club needs new, delegated leadership from the top - not be steered, as reputed, by a distant agent, however trusted.

There have been signs of lessons learned but it has to go further. Ins and outs, the process of team-building, has to be approached in the round, rather than the impression of it being piecemeal, deal to deal. Whatever, this model is not working.

Wednesday may even have to acknowledge the methods of small-town neighbours Barnsley and Rotherham for a start towards salvation.

Barnsley especially have excelled at finding and honing young talent. It’s controversial when they sell it but at least they are enhancing the value of the squad and staying safe financially.

Rotherham, too, sign players from below and, in particular, have a pace and athleticism that Wednesday can only envy.

Both the Reds and Millers have beaten the Owls this season and are ahead in the table on fractional resources.

Yet, in transfer terms, they lack the pulling power, both in status and wages, that Wednesday have at their disposal.

So I feel a major rethink is required. And while Chansiri, as is his prerogative, has repeatedly dismissed the notion of a director of football, I think the argument retains merit.

Front of house managers repeatedly change in football. Maybe Wednesday could do with a fixture behind the scenes, an experienced football person to define an identity and approach.

Managers could be employed to fit in with that rather than everything changing when they are replaced.

Certainly, Wednesday can’t continue in the current fashion. Chansiri, whose financial commitment can only be applauded, owes it to himself more than anyone to get a far higher yield for his investment.