Sheffield Wednesday

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Henrik Pedersen takes over at a time when the club is in utter turmoil.

For the third month in a row players and non-footballing staff haven't been paid on time. People are struggling to pay the bills and are worrying about what will happen every time payday comes around.

It seems the players have had enough. Some could hand their notice in and we've already seen Josh Windass and Michael Smith have their contracts ended.

We understand the players aren't prepared to play in a training match against Burnley. Will they do the same for the league opener against Leicester in just over a week's time? That would make national headlines and would be a hugely significant statement if it happens.

How Pedersen manages this situation is hard to imagine. What can he do? He might be left with what amounts to an under-21 side to pick from.

The Championship is an unforgiving league. Wednesday could face a points deduction in the future after they and owner Dejphon Chansiri were charged by the EFL. They're already clear favourites to go down.

Simply put, he might be left hoping a takeover happens soon and that until then he can just about keep things ticking along. There are interested parties out there but it all comes down to one man. Is Chansiri prepared to sell and if so, at a reasonable price?

Until that happens Sheffield Wednesday appear destined to continue being a chaotic mess, creating an incredibly difficult situation for Pedersen to navigate.

Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Henrik Pedersen as their new manager.

He replaces Danny Rohl, who left the club on Tuesday.

Pedersen was Rohl's assistant so is this a sensible appointment and can he turn around a club in turmoil?

Let us know your thoughts here and check back later to read some of the views of Wednesday fans.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday have announced the death of former winger Alan Finney at the age of 91.

Finney made his debut for the Owls at the age of 17, against Chelsea in 1951, and played 504 times and scored 88 goals in total for the club, making a post-war record number of appearances.

He scored his first league goal for Wednesday in a 6-0 victory against Everton in May of that year, when both clubs were relegated from the First Division.

Wednesday immediately bounced back to the top flight the following season, with Finney creating a formidable partnership with striker Derek Dooley.

Finney would go on to win another two Second Division titles, in 1955 and 1959, before being a regular part of the side which finished second in Division One behind Tottenham in 1961.

At the latter end of his career, Finney moved to Doncaster Rovers before retiring at Alfreton Town in 1968.

"It's been a mess in many ways at Sheffield Wednesday and the lack of clarity on the managerial situation has been one of the biggest messes."

BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton and Adam Oxley analyse Danny Rohl's exit from Sheffield Wednesday and where it leaves the club.

Listen to the full analysis and more on BBC Sounds.

Sheffield Wednesday are cutting it close to potentially breaching another English Football League 30-day rule which will see the club hit with further fee restrictions. (Star), external

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

We asked for your reaction to the news Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl has left the club.

The German spent 21 months in the hot-seat at Hillsborough and leaves behind a club in turmoil.

Here is what some Wednesday fans have been telling us:

Patrick - As much as I hate to see this you cannot blame him - so much potential and heart, currently too good for our beleaguered club being torn apart girder by girder. I hope when the club is eventually sold it will rise stronger back from the ashes left by Chansiri.

Rob - Rohl's departure is the culmination of a sorry saga at Hillsborough and all the blame lies with an intransigent chairman who is clearly out of his depth, and funds. This could all have been avoided midway through last season had Rohl been given the chance, and money, to strengthen his squad during the transfer window.

Graeme - Danny handled the situation very badly, we all know that for anyone working for Chansiri, it's always going to be a very rocky road, but to tout himself about and to fail as he did in securing a new role, whether or not his release clause was the reason, it created an untenable position that simply would never have worked. Having said that, thanks for the memories Danny and good luck for the future, I've a feeling you're going to need it, you have damaged your reputation big style!

Steve - Right decision - I think he's begun to believe his own hype a little too much, the fact nobody was prepared to pay the release speaks volumes. Let us not forget that the home record last season was shocking. Would you pay five million pounds for a coach with that record?

Dex - Disaster after disaster. Why come back at all then leave the club two weeks before the season starts? Tainted his good work at the club.

Mike - The players didn't want him, the fans didn't want him after he spent all summer trying to flaunt himself to any available club. A really sour end for me to a man that could have become a legend at this club after the past two seasons.

Chris - Danny Rohl's departure is no surprise. The club lacks the ambition to match his - no money, losing assets. Loved Danny, his ethic, his passion but Wednesday is not the club to match his career projection sadly.

Nadia - Although you cannot believe everything you read, I wasn't expecting Rohl to come back to pre-season training. When he did and I heard the players staying were not happy, I thought he might not last especially as there is no buyer in the pipe line. It shouldn't have been allowed to get to this stage - the fans have been asking for it to be sold for a long time. Chansiri should have cut his losses long ago.

Graham - The unfortunate thing for most Wednesday fans is that Rohl was seen as someone with the potential (with the right backing) to finally take us back to the Premier League. Rohl, being one of the youngest managers in the league, had the opportunity to continue the work he has started, expanding on what has been a very solid two years and to potentially lead us in to a bold new era.

Michael - Rohl has let himself down with no thought given to the club and their fans. He has thought of no one but himself. His initial impact kept us in the championship however the momentum stalled badly. I'm glad he has gone but sad at the state of the club.

After months of speculation, Danny Rohl has finally exited his post as Sheffield Wednesday boss.

The German was expected to leave earlier in the summer but then returned to Wednesday's training ground earlier this month.

He now departs with assistant coach Henrik Pedersen expected to be put in charge of the turmoil-laden club.

How much of a blow is his departure, Owls fans? Were you expecting him to leave before the season started or did his appearance in training give you a renewed hope that he might stay?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

After a summer of turmoil at Sheffield Wednesday with unpaid wages, embargoes, takeover rumours and a lack of clarity on the future, now the Owls are changing manager.

Danny Rohl's tenure, which included a Championship 'great escape' before progression last season, ends two weeks before the start of the new season.

It's believed the German had been focusing on plans for the first game of the season against Leicester. However, a difficult last few months, which at times appeared to create an unsustainable situation, has now led to an agreement being reached to part ways.

Rohl had conducted individual meetings with players in an attempt to build bridges and create a fresh start. It's thought the players responded to this, with a productive last fortnight at Middlewood Road.

Wednesday had two recent training games where they defeated York City and Mansfield Town - scoring five times without conceding a goal.

Rohl's departure follows the news on Monday night that Callum Paterson was leaving for League Two MK Dons.

The Owls are left with a threadbare squad and those remaining will be keeping an eye on pay-day this week, after not receiving their wages on time for May and June.

The squad is very small and the club remains under embargo, limiting what can be done to add players.

There's constant chatter on the grapevine about the state of play regarding a takeover, with nobody able to predict whether one is likely or not, even with interested buyers out there.

We could also soon learn the outcome of EFL charges made against the club and owner Dejphon Chansiri.

The Owls have seen a number of high profile players leave the club amongst the financial turmoil behind the scenes but could see a new player added to the ranks in former Arsenal winger Reece Clairmont, 18, after taking the English teenager on trial. (Star), external

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

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Windass' place in Sheffield Wednesday history should be secure. I suspect his impact is being somewhat overlooked since his recent departure during a calamitous summer at Hillsborough.

Let's start with the record-breaking statistics. No player has scored more Owls goals since the turn of the century. His tally of 53 will take some beating, given how much Wednesday have struggled over the years to find consistent, regular scorers.

Then there were the goals. Windass will be a candidate for a Puskas nomination for his strike against Derby from inside his own half. If you ask the player himself, he thought his wonder goal at Blackburn a season earlier – from a similar distance – was even better. Even so, it's a crime that the Derby goal didn't win the EFL's goal of the season. Windass could produce magical moments and as a commentator, having witnessed many of them, players like that are 'worth the entrance fee alone' as they say.

There's also the goal he will be most fondly remembered for among Owls fans - the Wembley winner against Barnsley. A promotion-winning goal right at the death, sending the mass of blue-and-white shirts behind the goal into ecstasy. Truth be told Wednesday were poor in that final but nobody ever talks about that. Windass read the play, was in the right place at the right time and gave Wednesday fans their first winner in the national stadium since Mark Bright in 1993.

I've interviewed Windass many times and appreciated his unpredictable nature. He could be very honest and open. You also knew when you'd asked a question he wasn't fond of, because it'd get short shrift. It was never a boring conversation and in a world where many interviews are run-of-the-mill, this was a player willing to avoid the predictable answer.

On one occasion Joe Crann from the Sheffield Star and I were given an opportunity to interview Windass for a podcast during a training camp in Spain. It was brilliant – and the conversation after even better.

It's a little bit disappointing to see some – and it's only some – Wednesday fans criticising Windass' decision to leave. He and Michael Smith had their contracts mutually terminated amid a saga that has seen players and non-football staff face delayed payment of wages.

It's amazing, really, that anyone is being criticised for wanting to move on. I'm not sure any of us would fancy sticking around given what's happened recently.

Wrexham, Windass' new club, are a stark contrast to Wednesday. Beloved owners, ambitions of going further than their rapid rise to the Championship, international attention. They'll be an attractive destination for many players.

Yet this is part of the weirdness of the summer. There's sympathy with players and staff at Hillsborough it seems, with many even saying they'd understand if people want out. Yet the minute someone goes, or tries to go, the criticism begins.

It's not the players' fault, not the manager's fault, nor the coaches or the staff, for the mess Wednesday are in. We're all waiting to see if wages will be paid for July in the coming days. That's no way to live, not knowing month-to-month whether you'll be paid. Meanwhile there's been no warm-weather camp, no public pre-season friendlies, a stadium that might not have use of the North Stand next season and there's a three-transfer window ban on fees.

Nobody wants to leave Wednesday because of the club or the fans. It's because the club, in its current state, is a shambles - with no clarity on when that's going to change.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have signed 15-year-old Sheffield Wednesday academy striker Caelan Cadamarteri for an undisclosed fee.

The Scotland Under-16 international scored 24 goals for the club's under-18s last season.

The beleaguered Championship side are under a number of embargoes because of financial issues and owner Dejphon Chansiri is looking to sell the club.

"Sheffield Wednesday wish the very best to Caelan as he embarks on the next step of his fledgling career," the Owls said in a statement on the club website., external

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Back to the drawing board.

Last Friday, we received information that an agreement had been reached with a party interested in buying Sheffield Wednesday. Multiple sources confirmed this, with a growing belief a takeover could actually be on the cards.

Later on Friday, we also discovered that Francesco Guardascione was part of a group pursuing a purchase of Sheffield Wednesday.

There were also reports in the national media of interest from Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta but we could not find anyone to back this up.

We understand the prospect of a takeover played a part in the delayed transfer of Djeidi Gassama to Rangers.

By Monday, with that deal being widely reported in Scotland to be close to completion after all, the mood changed around a prospective takeover. Things appeared to have stalled.

There was belief that a potential buyer could provide an advance to pay outstanding bills. We understand that ended up not being the case.

With Gassama sold and fellow winger Anthony Musaba departing for Samsunspor in Turkey, players and staff were finally paid their wages for June on Tuesday.

So what now?

There are multiple parties showing interest in Sheffield Wednesday. However, even with the process being handled by a professional team with experience in selling football clubs, it's believed that negotiating a deal to buy the club is a challenging process. Words like 'unique' and 'unorthodox' are still used to describe negotiations.

We're back to a total lack of clarity on what the future holds.

Will further player sales be necessary to pay the bills? Is a points deduction from the EFL inevitable? Is the asking price to buy Sheffield Wednesday a stumbling block for any serious potential buyer? What happens to the North Stand, with a further SAG (Safety Advisory Group) meeting due on Friday where the subject will be discussed?

Dejphon Chansiri's legacy as Sheffield Wednesday owner is already set. He is overseeing a shambles.

It won't change anything now but trusting the right people to find a buyer, doing things the right way and enabling the club to move on will at least enable a line to be drawn. Is he prepared to do that?