'You would be a hero' - Dion Dublin outlines Sheffield Wednesday wish amid Owls 'soft spot'
Former Manchester United, Coventry City and Norwich City striker Dion Dublin is determined to see Sheffield Wednesday bounce back from their recent difficulties.
Former Norwich City striker Dion Dublin has said Sheffield Wednesday’s current situation creates an opportunity for heroes to be made following the end of the turbulent Dejphon Chansiri era.
It is almost a year since the Thai businessman surrendered control of the club, filing for Wednesday to enter administration after a chaotic ten-and-a-half years at the helm.
Wednesday, of course, fell into the hands of new owners at the beginning of May when US consortium Arise Capital Partners, governed by David Storch, completed its takeover of the club. The group has wasted little time implementing sweeping changes across the board, using its first summer in charge to rebuild the squad and oversee multiple projects off the pitch.
Arise’s efforts off the pitch have so far been matched by Wednesday’s players on it, with the Owls currently top of League One after winning four of their opening five matches. They will be targeting a fourth successive win when they host Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon.
Although Wednesday are only at the beginning of what will hopefully be a long and successful journey under Arise’s stewardship, the opportunity to turn the club’s fortunes around could secure hero status at Hillsborough, according to Dublin, who brought his playing career to an end against Wednesday while playing for Norwich City in May 2008.
"I think Sheffield Wednesday will need to rebuild again if they go back up this year,” Dublin told Reviant. “They’re a club that have had some really testing times and their fans have been incredible the way they’ve stuck to their football club.
"I retired at Sheffield Wednesday. I played my last game there. It was my last professional game, Norwich City away at Sheffield Wednesday. Glenn Roeder, god rest his soul, took me off at 85 minutes and the whole stadium stopped, everybody stood, and clapped me for what felt like 20 minutes. It was probably only a minute. Their bench stood up too and clapped me off and the directors box.
"It was a moment of real class. That day made me realise, wow, this is a proper club. On my last day, 22 years for me and done, they showed that respect to me, as a player who played against them ten or so times.
“I even scored a hat-trick against them when I was playing for Coventry City. After that, I’ve always had a soft spot for Sheffield Wednesday.
"But they will need to rebuild again if they are to succeed in the Championship but what an opportunity for any player or manager to get that club, Sheffield Wednesday, back to where they should be.
“To have that chance to turn it all round, you would be a hero and I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to take on that challenge."