Exclusive:Sheffield Wednesday insider sounds League One warning and addresses his Owls future
Sheffield Wednesday will be hoping to stabilise themselves in League One after a forgettable 2025/26 Championship campaign.
Sheffield Wednesday coach Giles Coke has warned that “some aspects” of League One are tougher than the Championship as the club begins to prepare for life back in the third tier.
The Owls’ three-year stay in the Championship will draw to a close in just over a fortnight’s time when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Hillsborough on the final day of the season, meaning full focus will immediately switch to life back in the third tier.
Wednesday were relegated before the end of February because of a myriad of failings by former owner Dejphon Chansiri, whose actions ultimately led to the club being deducted 18 points and the squad, last summer, being ripped apart. The Owls have won just once in the Championship this season.
With Wednesday, all being well, hoping to be under the control of new ownership by May 1, there is hope and optimism the club will soon be able to look forward to a brighter future. However, they are poised to start life in League One next term on -15, meaning the first aim must be trying to avoid successive relegations.
Having already experienced three different stints in League One since dropping out of the Premier League in 2000, Wednesday are no strangers to the demands of England’s third tier, likewise Coke, who made 113 League One appearances during his playing career including 27 in Wednesday colours.
And with Coke, alongside other members of Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen’s coaching team, set to take in some League One fixtures ahead of the end of this season, the 39-year-old is determined to use his experience to help Pedersen next term.
“Yes, I think we've all got a few designated games to go and watch,” Coke told The Star. “So, yes, we'll all be doing that.
“I played in League One for many years as well, so it hasn't changed. I know the league. I know what it's about. People might not understand when I say this, but for me, it is harder than the Championship in some aspects of it.
“So, yes, we're going to watch games. The gaffer is going to be new to it, but all of us around him will help him as much as we can.”
Coke, this season, has split his time between Wednesday’s first-team and the club’s Under-21s. Although he is happy to help the club in any way he can, he would love to remain within the first-team environment next season.
Coke continued: “I definitely want to be around the first-team. Now, listen, whether that's next year, whether it's the year after, who knows?
“But, as a goal for me personally, I want to be around the first-team because I've been playing for 20 years as a professional, or I had been playing 20 years as a professional. So, I feel like I can offer a lot in that aspect.
“And along the way, developing as a coach, I think I can add something as well.”