Sheffield Wednesday point to lack of ‘progress’ behind Henrik Pedersen sacking

Sheffield Wednesday have sacked Henrik Pedersen after admitting the team under his management had not made enough progress towards establishing a “recognisable style of play”.

The Owls are eighth in League One after 11 matches, having won five, but the club confirmed on Sunday that Pedersen had left with immediate effect.

His exit followed a 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday and a second loss in five days.

Wednesday conceded twice inside the opening 17 minutes at the Eco-Power Stadium, with supporters calling for the 48-year-old’s departure during the South Yorkshire derby.

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Expectations not met

The Danish manager took charge in July 2025 after Danny Rohl’s departure, having already spent almost two years at Hillsborough as assistant and remained with the club through last season’s turmoil and the transition to new ownership.

Despite the challenges of rebuilding after relegation from the Championship, sporting director Simon Wilson said Wednesday had yet to establish the “recognisable style of play” the club wanted to see under Pedersen.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Henrik for his professionalism, commitment and contribution during an exceptionally challenging period for Sheffield Wednesday.,” he said.

“We knew the start of this season would be difficult due to the scale of change across the club, but our expectation was always that we would develop as the season progressed, establishing a recognisable style of play and greater consistency in our performances.

“Although we have accumulated points, we haven’t seen enough progress in those areas.

“We believe making a change now gives us the best opportunity to establish those foundations and build towards the second half of the season and beyond.”

“We remain ambitious about what we can achieve this campaign, and our focus remains on building a Sheffield Wednesday team with a clear identity, capable of delivering sustained improvement and long-term success.”

Dave Challinor to lead Owls revival?

The Owls are attempting to rebuild after a turbulent decade under former owner Dejphon Chansiri, whose tenure left the club facing significant financial and infrastructure problems, alongside struggles on the pitch.

Wednesday spent last season in administration and were relegated from the second tier in record time after a campaign blighted by points deductions.

US-based entrepreneur David Storch and the Arise Group completed their takeover of the club on the final day of the 2025-26 campaign, bringing renewed investment and a push to rebuild the club’s relationship with supporters.

Wednesday currently remain two points outside the League One play-off places, with their next fixture coming at home to sixth-placed Cambridge United on Tuesday.

Matt Hamshaw will take interim charge. The former Rotherham United manager joined Wednesday’s coaching staff in August after being sacked by the Millers last season, having spent less than a year in charge at the New York Stadium.

The club will search for a permanent head coach in the meantime, with Dave Challinor among the names linked to the vacancy.

Challinor is a leading contender given his previous working relationship with Wilson at Stockport County.

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