Another long-serving staff departure, PFA look and a big water tank - Sheffield Wednesday notebook
There’s always plenty going on down S6.
There’s always a lot going on at Sheffield Wednesday and in a new premium feature, we’ll be bringing you our ‘Owls notebook’ on a semi-regular basis with tidbits of lighter information you might find interesting - and that you won’t find in our reports elsewhere.
These morsels will come from the pads of our Owls reporting team of Alex Miller and Liam Norcliffe and our first edition features prominent staff exits, a scouting glimpse, academy hires and a massive tank of water.
Yes, chef
After the departure of long-serving general manager Alastair Wilson from Hillsborough last week, it’s understood another long-standing club figure will move on, with his final day arriving today, August 14.
Rob Cox served as the club’s executive chef and oversaw much of the responsibilities over the food operation within the club, from managing the kitchens and kiosks to providing nutrition at the club’s Middlewood Road training base. He also travelled with the team and provided matchday food for four years. His total time at the club came to nearly 11 years and he was listed on the club website as a member of Chansiri’s senior management team for some time.
Rob, a popular figure behind the scenes and a lifelong Wednesday supporter, will move on from Hillsborough having been offered another job role and will start his new professional life at another Sheffield business next week. He has secured his season tickets for the coming campaign.
A big ol’ water tank
It’s been understood for some time that an improvement in the water supply available to Hillsborough has been high on the priority list of the club’s new regime, with chairman David Storch having included it in his opening gambit on-field within 24 hours of his ownership of the club on May 2.
It’s part of a vast £8.5m project to improve stadium infrastructure and doesn’t come a moment too soon - supporters have long-since reported issues with water pressure in parts of the ground and it caused problems in the club changing rooms with showers often cold or unable to provide water. There were suggestions of some pretty grim sanitation issues occasionally, too.
The Star understands that as part of these improvements, a huge water tank has been installed somewhere beneath the West Stand to better ensure the supply of water to areas of the ground. One conversation joked the tank was ‘massive’ and suggested it was one of the biggest water tanks in Europe. You’ll never sing that.
Sweet PFA
It’s understood that Wednesday are among the clubs to have had a presence at the PFA free agents training matches in recent weeks as they continue to do their due diligence on any potential additions. Reece James, who is training with Wednesday and is a possible signing consideration, spent time with the offering earlier this summer as he sought a new club before trialling with Bradford City.
A high percentage EFL clubs are said to have been present at one time or another as bargains are sought throughout the leagues. Wednesday are operating under recruitment restrictions but there is nothing to suggest any of the players on show piqued too much interest as things stand.
The PFA pre-season programme was initially launched ahead of the 2022/23 season and has helped secure 100s of free agent players new employment. Among the former Wednesday players to have taken-up the programme this summer have been Fernando Forestieri, Marvin Johnson and Connor Wickham.
New hires sought in the academy
The workforce in the Owls academy is bringing on board new faces, with a host of jobs having been advertised in recent weeks. These have included PDP manager and two assistant PDP coaches, which would appear to be something of a restock after the promotions of Andy Holdsworth and Giles Coke to the senior ranks last season.
Also advertised are the head of sports science, believed to have been a lapsed role at academy level, while interns have also sought to support that role. A casual therapist has also been advertised. As is often the case, Wednesday are also on the lookout for new host families to house some of their young up-and-coming starlets.
Groundstaff beef-up - and a kind moment
Some time after the final whistle of Sheffield Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Bolton Wanderers, after media duties had been performed and players had left the ground, Henrik Pedersen emerged from the tunnel to offer a word of thanks to the Hillsborough groundstaff.
Though details are yet to be drilled-down on, it did appear as if a greater presence of groundstaff were present during the match, with huge care and attention placed on flattening divots both before and after the match, as well as half-time. The lack of investment into the grounds effort caused problems for Wednesday in years gone by, with a high staff turnover evident.