Exclusive:Sheffield Wednesday manager latest with candidates set to meet with ownership
The latest as Sheffield Wednesday continued their process to hire a new manager.
The process of hiring a new head coach at Sheffield Wednesday is moving forward, The Star understands, with selected candidates expected to progress to discussions with top brass at S6 in the coming days.
Wednesday sacked Henrik Pedersen over the weekend and are understood to have moved quickly in the search for a new boss, with a number of interviews having taken place. These discussions are believed to have been overseen by sporting director Simon Wilson, brand director Oscar Chamberlain and Aaron Briggs. As revealed by The Star earlier this month, former Liverpool and Manchester City figure Briggs has been brought on board to S6 in a consultancy capacity to ‘assist and advise on the development of game models and coaching frameworks at all levels’.
Wednesday’s focus is understood to be placed in choosing the right team for the long-term ambitions of the club and as suggested in a statement confirming Pedersen’s departure on Sunday, the search is on for a coaching team that can instil ‘a clear identity, capable of delivering sustained improvement and long-term success’, though the statement outlines that they ‘remain ambitious on what can be achieved this season’.
An as yet unknown number of interview candidates are under consideration for the Wednesday top job, with The Star of the understanding that the list includes names both with a domestic background and from overseas. Discussions are also believed to have been held with the assistant coaches of potential new bosses as the club seek to gain a holistic view of what potential coaching teams would offer. Beyond their football and coaching outlook, candidates’ leadership, communication ability and cultural alignment are believed to be among the processes’ priority attributes.
CEO David Bruce and the club’s ownership have had oversight of the process to date but are expected to welcome selected candidates for a further interview stage as things progress. Bruce is expected to return from overseas before the end of the week.
It is by now no secret that free agent boss Dave Challinor, who together with Wilson steered Stockport County’s progression from the National League to the League One play-off final last season, is believed to be a candidate on a narrowing shortlist of other individuals.
The Star reported last week that a hire next week is believed to be possible and it is expected that Matt Hamshaw will lead the team into Sunday’s welcoming of Blackpool to Hillsborough. The Owls make the trip to Oldham Athletic for an FA Cup first round tie the following weekend. Wednesday sit ninth in the third tier table.