One of Sheffield Wednesday’s frontline coaching staff has reiterated the importance of the club being a fan-focused organisation - and has stressed there is a plan in place to achieve that.

The Owls are looking to push on with their community efforts and ensure the connection between players and supporters is as tight as it can be heading into a bold new era under new ownership. Though the spirit between those at pitch level and those in the terraces was only strengthened by the intense struggle of the last 18 months, new CEO David Bruce has spoken about the need for the club to re-engage with its fanbase, with vast improvements already being pressed on with in hospitality and fan offering.

Though Tuesday evening’s friendly run-out at Hallam FC saw few senior players feature, the first team squad made the short trip to Sandygate and spent a great deal of time mingling and chatting with Wednesday fans pre-match. Young supporters had shirts signed and posed for photos with their heroes.

Speaking to The Star, assistant coach Pete Shuttleworth suggested the gesture was just an example of how they want to go about things moving forward: “The new Sheffield Wednesday that we are going to be is going to be a community-based club where we want to connect with the community. For the first-team to be here tonight and to be really accessible to all the supporters who have come on the evening, I think is really part of where we are going to go going forward.

“For them to do that, and they are always willing to do that, they are a really good set of lads who are willing to give up their time and come and sign supporters' shirts, things like that are really positive for them.”