Sheffield Wednesday's new owners need to simply savour the moment ... for now
Alan Biggs on some positivity, at last, around Sheffield Wednesday
Well, this is delightfully, deliciously difficult. Learning to write happy things about Sheffield Wednesday again.
Apologies if it takes a bit of practice. It’s hard to know where to start after a year of unprecedented and unrelenting trauma.
But that’s it exactly. A start. Suddenly an exciting new one rather than a long, torturous, agonising end.
Can a club’s fortunes ever have turned so completely in 24 hours? Confirmation of a takeover, the obliteration of a 15 point penalty for next season and another big fat zero with a final day win, a first for over a year at a packed and partying Hillsborough.
Above all, it’s a return to the simple, basic but never to be taken for granted essence of football supporting - and also writing in this case.
For fans to go to games in expectation of winning a few. For media types to start critically assessing performances rather than having to make allowances all the time.
For which I make no apology. Whether you agree with Henrik Pedersen staying as manager or not - and it has been argued either way - the man is deserving of huge respect for leading an almighty fight from the inside. For fronting up to the frankly impossible.
From the outside, supporters matched the lead of Pedersen, loyal players and staff, by refusing to desert the sinking ship. Sheer pride and resilience has won the battle. Wednesday is afloat again.
So what now when it’s so gloriously, exhilaratingly challenging to think positively again?
Maybe the answer is not to try too hard - for now. To simply savour the moment and let the after-glow of the Arise takeover last as long as possible.
Because there’s no doubt that David and Michael Storch, and Tom Costin, have taken on an enormously onerous mission, about which they are pledging action over words.
Give them time and patience, let them try to rebuild the club from the bottom upwards and not judge too harshly.
It’s not going to happen overnight. No instant promotion from League One can be expected or demanded, much as there is now a chance of exactly that.
The new owners might be in as much hurry as everyone else but they’ll need some leeway as they get to grips with fundamental infrastructure work.
But it’s enough for now to know that the crisis is over. Fans can look forward again - and look forward to their football.
Simple pleasures that simply can’t be over-valued, ones you can’t fully appreciate until they might be taken away. Because that is what a football club is and does.
This is what is resoundingly back at Sheffield Wednesday and thank heavens for that.