The Owls are looking for a boss after the sacking of Henrik Pedersen

Sheffield Wednesday’s search for a new manager is underway.

Henrik Pedersen’s time as Owls boss came to an end on Sunday after successive defeats to Notts County and Doncaster Rovers.

Explaining the reasons behind the decision, Owls sporting director Simon Wilson said there had not been enough progress in establishing a recognisable style of play and consistency in performances.

When the new manager is announced, here are some of his top priorities we think he needs to address...

WIN!

Sounds obvious, right? But Sheffield Wednesday Football Club has not won many football matches in the last 18 months. Just two in the whole of last season. Five out of 11 this campaign is reasonable. But with the squad they have, they should have got more victories. The new boss will first have to win regularly if he is to get time. It is a results-based business after all.

IDENTITY

Henrik Pedersen might have got a bit more time had performances been more pleasing on the eye. But there was no clear style of play. It was clunky and confusing. The positive results they were getting were not sustainable playing that way. Instilling a clear identity will go a long way towards earning the trust of the fans. They will need to dig in and win ugly away, but with 30,000 flocking to Hillsborough every other Saturday, the product on the pitch needs to be attractive if the big crowds are to be sustained.

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK

On the topic of style, Pedersen spoke about wanting to play front-foot, attacking football but, Bromley and AFC Wimbledon aside, performances did not really reflect that. ‘Sideways and backwards everywhere we go’ was the chant from those in the away end at Doncaster. They can’t go an hour without having a shot on target like against Huddersfield Town or failing to do so completely at Notts County.

BACK TO BASICS

Whoever the new manager is, they have got to simplify things. Too many times this season Pedersen said Wednesday had failed to do the basics like winning duels. The new boss does not need to overcomplicate the formation and team selection. There can’t be a repeat of putting square pegs in round holes like the Kieran Morrison experiment at left-back against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday. As bad as The Owls were against Rovers, they could have still got a result, which just shows you don’t need to be sparkling to pick up points in League One. I personally don’t think it will take anything drastic to get this team winning again.

CONSISTENCY

Finding consistency is easier said than done - it is what every manager is searching for - but there can’t be a continuation of the huge highs followed by rock-bottom lows. How can you win a game 5-0 and then lose the next two 2-0? That can’t happen if Wednesday are going to achieve what they want to this season. Yes, they will lose games and experience frustrating draws across a long campaign, but there needs to be some general consistency with results and performances.

GET THE BEST OUT OF SQUAD

Wednesday are working under financial restrictions so they might not be able to do big business in January. So the new manager will have to get the best out of the current squad. With six loan players, triggering any break clauses in those deals might be one way they can balance the squad, with more options out wide and a proper number nine needed.

In addition, can he get the best out of Barry Bannan who, even at 36, should still be one of the best players in League One but has not looked himself.