Fans flock to Wednesday's open training session

Hundreds of fans attend the event at Hillsborough on Wednesday

Hundreds of Sheffield Wednesday fans responded to a club invite to attend an open first team training session at Hillsborough this week.

The club said the event was "a gesture from the first team squad and staff" to thank supporters for their "unprecedented" response after the club went into administration.

Fans greeted the squad and manager Henrik Pedersen with rapturous applause as they took to the pitch on Wednesday, with some able to grab autographs from their favourite players.

Supporter Courtney Dransfield said: "With everything that's happened it's just nice to come back as a community and smile and enjoy football as we used to do."

Yasmyn Wilson said Sheffield Wednesday were a big part of her family

Wednesday were placed into administration on Friday after it was revealed HMRC were set to issue a winding-up petition against the club, effectively ending Dejphon Chansiri's decade-long ownership of the Owls.

Since then administrators said supporters, who had previously boycotted matches and refused to buy merchandise, have already spent more than £500,000 on tickets and in the club shop.

Among those at Wednesday's open training session was Yasmyn Wilson who said with the club no longer under Chansiri's control she had been eager to take up the invite.

"Finally we've got an opportunity to see the team thrive," she said.

"My two kids are big supporters, we're here at every match.

"I used to be a cheerleader on the pitch for Wednesday, and I used to play for the Young Owls. Wednesday is a family tradition for us."

Young fan Harry said he felt "happier" with Dejphon Chansiri gone

Harry, 12, who has been a season ticket holder for four years said: "I'm here because I support the players, and it's the best team in Yorkshire.

"I feel happier now [Chansiri] is gone.

"It's better attendance at the games, and all the kit in the club megastore is getting used up, a lot of money is being spent."

Following the training session fans were also given a chance to meet some of the players in the club shop.

On the pitch, Wednesday go into their match this weekend against West Bromwich Albion bottom of the table and 16 points adrift of safety, having been deducted 12 points as a result of going into administration.

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