Sheff Wed boss unsure on Bannan availability

Henrik Pedersen joined Sheffield Wednesday as assistant to Danny Rohl in November 2023

New Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has said they do not know whether captain Barry Bannan will be able to play in their season opener at Leicester on Sunday.

The Championship club are under a number of registration embargoes at the moment after players and staff were paid late in May, June and July, and on Wednesday the EFL urged owner Dejphon Chansiri to sell.

Veteran midfielder Bannan, 35, who has been with the club for 10 years, was out of contract at the end of June and signed a new deal on Saturday.

"Right now people in the club are trying to find out the situation. Right now I don't know," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It's a strange situation, but I hope we can get clarity very soon so we know more before the training session on Friday."

Pedersen, who stepped up from assistant after Danny Rohl left by mutual consent last month, also said he had not had any indication that any of the 15 senior players left were not intending to play on Sunday.

It is understood defender Max Lowe handed in his notice last week.

The Dane praised the attitude of all of the club's staff after what has been a chaotic summer.

"The last two days' sessions we have had fantastic energy in the group. I have to say I have big, big respect for our players and how they have handled the situation," he said.

"Of course it's difficult, and there are a lot of mornings that they are coming, and there are different energy levels for individuals, but again, how they have handled it as a group and how my staff have supported them, so we have had a lot of good sessions, has impressed me.

"Yes, it's a tough situation, but the players do a great job."

Pedersen's heart at Hillsborough

Despite the numerous difficulties facing the club, Pedersen said he had "no doubt" about taking over at Hillsborough.

He has previously had spells managing in his homeland as well as Norway and Germany.

"I think for all coaches and managers in the world, England is something special, and it's also something special for me.

"English football was the first I could watch on the television in the mid-80s. England has always been the most viewed football in Denmark.

"For me it has always been a big dream to take over a job in England.

"I had some good options, but I said to my wife that there were good projects and options, but you know where my heart is. When they asked me, there was no doubt."

He added: "I've been a part of this club now for nearly two years, and since I arrived here, I have really, really enjoyed the journey.

"To come in the stadium and meet people in the city... It's a fantastic club, and my family love it here."

'I can not say where we will end'

Pedersen said he has a "very professional" relationship with the club's under-fire owner, Dejphon Chansiri, who he says is working to resolve the issues facing the club "as quick as possible".

The 47-year-old is working alongside the club's academy staff after the majority of the coaching team left with Rohl but is hopeful he will be able to bring more coaches in soon.

He said that at present, a lot of his job is "on the human side".

"We are trying to make the same standard that we would normally do. If we are 14 [players] or 20, we still need to be top fit before we can play a Championship game,"

"I think the most important thing is to have a healthy atmosphere around the team. A strong culture to focus on where we can influence. It's difficult in the period, but the boys are doing really well.

"It's important to feel the players and know, 'Oh, it's too much right now', and speak to the human behind the player. I think generally they're doing really, really well.

"We know if you are happy, you can do more. So the first thing is to have a good culture around the team, both besides the pitch and on the pitch. If this is good, then we can do more and expect more."

With the possibility the club could yet be given a points deduction at some point this campaign, they have been made favourites to be relegated back to League One.

Pedersen said it was "not fair" to say where the team would end this season at the moment, and all his energy was going into preparing the team for the trip to relegated Leicester.

"I cannot say where we will end, but what I can say is from when I get up in the morning until I go to bed, I do all I can with my staff and the players to do the best possible job for Sheffield Wednesday," he concluded.