Sheffield Wednesday

Newly-promoted Wrexham will look for their first points of the Championship season when they face fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 BST).

With the Owls still in deep financial trouble, they will aim to build on what manager Henrik Pedersen described as "a good learning" during the 3-0 loss to Stoke City as they target their first points of the season.

• This will be the first league meeting between Wrexham and Sheffield Wednesday since the Yorkshire side won 4-0 at Hillsborough in the third tier in January 2005.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last three away league games against Wrexham, after failing to win on any of their first four visits to the Racecourse Ground (D2 L2).

• Wrexham will be looking to avoid losing their opening three league games of a Football League season for the first time since 1981-82.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last three away league games against newly promoted opposition, as many victories as across their prior 23 fixtures combined between April 2017 and March 2024.

• Wrexham's Kieffer Moore has won more duels than any other player in the Championship this season (25/41), but has managed to find the back of the net just once in eight prior meetings with the Owls in the Football League.

Sheffield Wednesday are close to signing former Norwich winger Onel Hernandez, with Birmingham and Wrexham having also shown interest in the 32-year-old Cuba international after his release by the Canaries. (SportsBoom, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke City weren't the only winners at the weekend. You could argue Dejphon Chansiri will feel like he gained a minor victory too.

Some Sheffield Wednesday fans protested in Hillsborough Park, with calls for the owner to sell and a passionate speech from MP Clive Betts. The club's Supporters Trust have done a good job keeping the protests peaceful and well organised.

However, there was one thing those attending kept saying to me as I walked among the protestors. Where's everyone else?

It's hard to say how many fans actually attended. It might've been about 1500 to 2,000 fans. From a declared attendance of nearly 20,000 fans at Hillsborough, though, it wasn't as many as some expected given everything that's happened this summer.

One supporter put it to me this way – if non-playing staff not being paid on time for three months, a squad totally decimated, a summer of drama about the North Stand, a distinct lack of communication from the top, EFL charges, a likely points deduction, possible (probable?) relegation and a bleak looking future for the club isn't enough to motivate people to join the protests, what will?

The feeling of apathy was in the air. That continued in the ground. The whistle protests in the first five minutes didn't really land, not helped perhaps by the fact Stoke scored within 60 seconds of kick-off. After that, there were a few strangled chants calling for Chansiri to go but not much else.

There was no real feeling of anger within Hillsborough. More resignation. Deflation. Helplessness.

It highlights again that for many Sheffield Wednesday fans, protesting simply isn't in their DNA. As we've heard from some of our callers and texters, some seem to have no interest in it, irrespective of what happens at their club.

Protesting alone won't remove the owner and none of the protestors I spoke to on Saturday believe that's why they need to speak out. They told me they want to raise further awareness, keep the pressure on and try to portray a collective show of strength to say that what has been happening isn't acceptable.

Chansiri may well think – and who knows what he truly thinks, because he's been virtually silent throughout the chaos this summer – that this was a victory. If the majority aren't protesting, if they're still turning up and in some cases continuing as normal, he could be empowered by that at a time when it's unclear whether he's motivated to actually sell or not. There's a distinct possibility he'll try to carry on.

The Trust has called for a boycott of the League Cup game against Leeds next Tuesday, 26 August after polling their near-5,000 members. The club have announced only the South Stand will be open to home fans, and theoretically they can still sell a lot of tickets to Leeds fans, but it will be interesting to see if home supporters stay away.

Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home will likely be repeated this season. That type of game – with plenty of effort from blameless players who give everything and simply cannot compete as part of a threadbare squad – is going to be a regular occurrence. Soon it is expected that a points deduction will be slapped on the club.

If things become more bleak on the pitch, it's hard to say whether that will move more fans to protest or whether it will simply lead to more apathy.

Naz Premji
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

How important will veterans Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer be for Sheffield Wednesday going forward?

Amid all the turmoil with Wednesday, both are doing their best to try to galvanise a threadbare squad made up of youngsters from the Under-21s and Under-18s.

There are only 12 senior players left and if Dejphon Chansiri doesn't sell the club, Bannan and Palmer deserve so much praise for sticking around.

Rumours of a deduction up to 15 points could pretty much mean relegation to League One.

With more than 800 club appearances between them, Bannan and Palmer will be pivotal in the recovery at Hillsborough - whenever that may happen.

Henrik Pedersen believes his side's first three games of the campaign have been a good learning opportunity for his squad.

Speaking after the Owls' 3-0 home defeat to Stoke City - their second defeat from two Championship games this season - Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It was a tough beginning, but we came back into the game well, were well organised, and had good intensity in our pressing.

"I thought we cold get something from the game at half-time, but we conceded again early after the break. We had more chances after that but then they got a third and that was too much.

"We had 15 shots and 10 on target so we showed we can have that intensity and compete, but we need more training time, so we can train how we want to play at the weekend.

"Everything so far has been a good learning for the boys. We are doing everything we can to get more players because we need a bigger squad, but we need more games at this level so that the players we do have can get used to playing with this intensity again."

Sheffield Wednesday have reportedly ignored bids from West Ham and Rangers for £1m-rated keeper Pierce Charles, 20. (Mike McGrath, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

Sheffield Wednesday's return to Hillsborough for the first time this season after a summer of financial disarray as they welcome Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Planned protests against Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri went well at the King Power Stadium during the side's 2-1 loss to Leicester City last weekend and the fans will continue to apply pressure on the Thai business man on home soil.

The Potters won't want to be distracted by the noise around the club however, as they won both their Championship and Carabao Cup matches across the past week and will want to keep the winning momentum going.

• Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten across their last seven home league games against Stoke City (W2 D5), keeping clean sheets in three of their last four meetings with the Potters at Hillsborough.

• After beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 in their last league meeting in April, Stoke City could win successive league matches against the Owls for the first time since winning three in a row between 1969 and 1984.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their opening home game in just one of the last 11 league campaigns (W5 D5), with that defeat coming against Southampton in 2023-24 (1-2).

• Stoke have failed to win their opening away game in any of the last 17 league campaigns (D7 L10), failing to score in each of the last five. Indeed, Stoke last won their first away league game in a season back in 2007-08 in the Championship (1-0 v Cardiff).

• Sheffield Wednesday's Barry Bannan was sent off v Leicester on MD1, since his debut for the Owls in September 2015, the club holds a 40.7% win-rate when he's featured in league matches compared to 31.2% without.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United would be prepared to let Harry Amass and Toby Collyer join Sheffield Wednesday on loan despite the Championship club's much-publicised off-field problems.

Both youngsters are set for spells away from Old Trafford this season despite breaking into the United first-team last term.

Interest in the pair is high and no decision has been made yet around either player.

However, eyebrows were raised when it was confirmed Wednesday were interested in signing Amass, while it has also been established the South Yorkshire outfit are one of the options Collyer is assessing.

Earlier this month, the Football League said it was speaking to Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri about potentially selling the club following a succession of late wage payments.

There was uncertainty over the club's ability to fulfil their opening league game of the season at Leicester, although that did eventually go ahead, with Wednesday supporters refusing to enter the stadium until five minutes into the 2-1 defeat in protest at Chansiri's running of the club.

However, there are concerns over the depth of the first-team squad and while Premier League solidarity payments have finally allowed wages to be paid, there is no guarantee of any external funding that would ensure future salaries are not missed.

It would be against that backdrop United would release Amass and Collyer if that was the choice of the players.

Their rationale for that is that the key point for both players this season is to further their careers by building on their United appearances and being exposed to regular first-team football, which there is more chance of at Wednesday due to the lack of depth in their squad.

The wage issues are not felt to be a specific concern as United could carry on paying the players, with Wednesday fulfilling any agreement reached at a point when either Chansiri's financial commitments change or new owners come in with access to greater funding. As a development loan, there would be no fee involved either.

It is also felt the general situation at Wednesday could have an additional positive element in terms of exposing Amass and Collyer to experiences that do not exist at United, taking them out of what is accepted to be a 'first-class bubble' at one of England's richest clubs.

It is being stressed both players have a number of options. Although there has been mentions of PSV Eindhoven, it is felt Amass' loan will be a domestic one.

Neither player was involved in the National League Cup opener at Tamworth on Wednesday, which was abandoned due to lack of ambulance cover after United midfielder Sekou Kone had to be taken to hospital after taking a hefty blow to the head that required lengthy on-field treatment.

As the game was a competitive fixture, it would have prevented either Amass or Collyer going out on loan and then being recalled in January and sent elsewhere as no player is allowed to play competitive matches for more than two clubs in a single season.

Sheffield Wednesday defender Gui Siqueira says unity among the squad helped them secure a place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

The Owls beat Bolton on penalties after Siqueira, 20, had scored on his debut in an action-packed game which ended 3-3 after 90 minutes.

"From the fans, to the (Under) 21s, to the seniors, everyone supported me on the pitch, they really stepped up and helped us in the changing room," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I knew the gaffer wanted the team to press and get the team up. [For the goal] I decided to send one in and it flew top corner - I was really happy.

"You always dream about those moments. The only other thing I wish is that it was in front of the other end so I could celebrate with the fans."

Wednesday will host Stoke City on Saturday (15:00 BST) in their first home game of the season, with more protests against the club owner Dejphon Chansiri planned.

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"The problem with Sheffield Wednesday is not a lack of credible buyers. The problem is a credible seller."

Those were the words from James Silverwood from the club's Supporters Trust in a piece by the BBC's Nick Mashiter reviewing Sunday's protest at Leicester City.

It will resonate with many fans who wonder what Dejphon Chansiri's motives are.

There's been a lot of speculation recently about takeovers being "close", names being linked. I would urge caution, due to the person doing the selling.

The fans made themselves heard with an excellently organised, peaceful, legal protest at the King Power Stadium organised by the Trust.

Even the Leicester fans joined in, giving Wednesday fans a standing ovation and holding up a banner against Chansiri themselves.

The national media covered the event, with Sky TV cameras capturing a moment that made many people contacting our show emotional and proud.

Further protests have been arranged for Saturday's first home game against Stoke. Supporters have boycotted the new home and away kit and a message is being sent by the Trust to not buy other merchandise or food at the ground.

The English Football League seem to be applying pressure and there are reports this week that the new football regulator could be fast-tracked with the power to strip owners of their right to run clubs and sanction takeovers at a price of their choice.

Sheffield Wednesday and Morecambe are being name-checked within those reports.

We're mid-way through another month and getting to the point where people start to wonder whether they will get paid on time again, something that hasn't been the case for players and staff for the last three months.

A points deduction is inevitable and the prospect of a long, hard season is an unavoidable truth.

There appears to be no way back. No future for the club where Chansiri is the owner and the club functions with everyone pulling in the same direction and football, not chaos, are the main focus. The fans say enough is enough and they mean it.

In many instances, an owner facing this situation would do a deal and move on. Yet this is Chansiri. He is unpredictable.

Even faced with being the poster-child for a regulator that might be looking for an early strike, even knowing that fans will never welcome his ownership, even knowing he owns a product that is losing value rapidly with every player departure.

Even with an infrastructure not matching Championship peers, you can't say for sure what he will do. Not even now.

For every report, or every internet leak or 'in the know' post (there have been too many of these and they don't help the process or situation), this is the reality: Until you see it announced as signed, sealed and delivered, you can't predict what Chansiri will do.

Adjust your hopes and expectations accordingly.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Sheffield understands that Sheffield Wednesday defender Max Lowe has opted to remain at the club.

The 28-year-old handed in his notice at the start of the month but now looks to staying at the Owls.

Lowe featured in Sunday's 2-1 defeat by Leicester City on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

The former Sheffield United player made 37 appearances for Wednesday last season as they finished 12th in the league.

Wednesday host Stoke City at Hillsborough on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Ian Bennett from the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust has praised Owls fans following their protest during the club's 2-1 defeat by Leicester City.

The away supporters boycotted the first five minutes of the game in protest against owner Dejphon Chansiri.

Bennett was also grateful to the Foxes' staff and fans for their support during the match.

"The fans and the club at Leicester are totally day and night to where we are at Hillsborough - the stewards, police, safety officers helped us. It was probably the proudest I've been since Wembley '91," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"It has got international coverage which is what we wanted. I was disappointed not to get the win as the team played very well.

"If the team continue to perform how they did on Sunday, there will be no issues about staying up."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.