Former England captain concerned by lack of leadership at Sheffield Wednesday

One of the city’s most well-known sportsmen has questioned the leadership at Sheffield Wednesday, admitting he has concerns for the clubs long-term future.
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Former England cricket captain and Sheffield Wednesday fan Michael Vaughan worries that not enough planning is being put in place to bring the best young talent through the ranks at the club.

And while sympathising with owner Dejphon Chansiri over the investment the Thai businessman has put into the Hillsborough coffers, Vaughan has questioned whether enough is being done behind the scenes.

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"It is difficult with the infrastructure of the club. From afar, it just doesn't look right,” Vaughan told Alan Biggs’ Talking Sport programme.

"Ownership is difficult. People have got to put a lot of money into running these football clubs so I completely understand that the owner has a huge amount of investment in the club.

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"But I look at infrastructure and I look at leadership. I look at the kind of drive of the process of making sure that you have got youngsters coming through your system.

"I look at the blueprint for the way that you play and I don't see that at Sheffield Wednesday at the minute.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan in his Sheffield Wednesday scarf.  (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Former England captain Michael Vaughan in his Sheffield Wednesday scarf.  (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Former England captain Michael Vaughan in his Sheffield Wednesday scarf. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
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"I don't see the leadership. I don't see the blueprint. I don't see the conveyor belt of local talent that have the opportunity to come through and play for the club."

In the short-term, Vaughan does believe the Owls must show faith in boss Garry Monk, who he feels hasn’t been given long enough to really prove what he can do, despite the desperate run of form Wednesday were on prior to football's shutdown.

Vaughan said: "If you appoint a manager to manage your football club, you have to give him that trust and freedom to manage the club.

"The best football clubs for me are the ones that are managed from top to bottom.

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"Garry has not been in that position long enough. He really hasn't had a window where he has been able to bring his own signings in yet.”

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