New Sheffield Wednesday boss won’t need to make drastic changes for promotion push
Sheffield Wednesday’s search for a new manager is underway following the departure of Henrik Pedersen at the weekend.
Eighth in the table, well within striking range of the top two, is roughly where Sheffield Wednesday's new owners planned to be. Changing manager was not part of that.
Given eighth at this stage, as rebuilding from complete dereliction began, most fans would have snatched at it. Many talked of settling for mid-table amid this embryo project.
However, none of the above is what we call "that's football" or, as Fergie put it, "football, bloody hell."
It would also not be Sheffield Wednesday for courses to run smooth. Or to be accepting of "bumps in the road", other than by lip service - however limited and rushed the rebuilding had to be.
But there is, for me, one distinct upside to the financial restrictions imposed on the club and also being two months shy of the next transfer window. It means all the pieces can't be thrown up in the air, along with sacked boss Henrik Pedersen.
That happens too often in football. Wednesday can't even if they wanted to.
I imagine they wouldn't anyway. With Simon Wilson as a very public sporting director, commenting on all comings and goings including the unfortunate Pedersen's, the Owls will hope to have a structure for continuity regardless of who stands in the technical area. I've always believed managers should drive signings but there is a good argument, as in this case, for them to be part of the process - itemising their needs - rather than leading it.
Wednesday appear to be largely stuck with what they have. In fairness to Pedersen, this squad is not as good, not as experienced, not as steely, as the one Darren Moore led to promotion in 2023. He was also very unlucky with injuries, especially the one stripping out main game-changer Louie Barry. And he suffered from the one major omission of last summer's recruitment, the lack of a number 9, which has to be a priority in January.
That said, displays were consistently below par and those defeats last week at Notts County and Doncaster simply unacceptable, a sudden tipping point that made the rarity of a manager being sacked for performances rather than results understandable.
Wednesday have some good talent in this squad. It should be possible to hone it for a promotion challenge without a major overhaul that, thankfully in this case, would be problematic.
But whoever succeeds Pedersen - with Wilson's former Stockport associate Dave Challinor the logical frontrunner at this stage - it won't be anyone with more heart and passion for the club than the immensely likeable Dane.
His selfless and valiant contribution in unique circumstances, has been rightly applauded by the vast majority of fans, even the many critical of him.
And it is mostly in the cause of restoring that special togetherness between the owners and supporters that the change is being made.