Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday captain Liam Palmer is set to make his 500th appearance for the club when they take on Watford in the Championship on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

The 34-year-old will become just the fourth player to reach that tally for the Owls since their founding in 1867.

"This being my 500th [appearance] at Hillsborough, leading the team out will be right up there with the best of [my Wednesday memories]," Palmer told BBC Radio Sheffield.

Palmer joined the Owls academy aged seven and made his senior debut aged 18 in a 1-0 League Cup win over now defunct Bury FC.

"It is a blur, that Bury game in the cup. I remember thinking I might be able to get on and make my debut but I ended up starting the game," Palmer recalled.

Palmer's stand-out memory of his Wednesday career, which spans 16 years and counting, is the night dubbed the 'Miracle of Hillsborough' three years ago.

The Owls turned over a 4-0 first-leg deficit against Peterborough United in the League One play-off semi-finals, beating them 5-1 in the second leg before winning on penalties and going on to secure promotion to the Championship that season.

"That's number one. Even now, hearing people's account of their experience of that day, it's nice to hear people's thoughts and memories around what was a really special day," Palmer said.

Wednesday know they will be playing League One football next season, with their relegation confirmed in February, but Palmer is unconcerned about the prospect of navigating the third tier despite continued uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club.

"It's not a question of whether I want to stay here or not. I've played the most games out of any player, I'm the oldest player, but I feel fit and well," Palmer added.

"I've been there and done it a few times in that division now and managed to get a promotion, so I'd like to think that any new owner who comes in would like someone who knows the club but also [has] experience in and around a [likely] young team.

"I want nothing more than this club to bounce straight back and get back up to the Championship as soon as possible."

Listen to the full interview with Liam Palmer and more Owls on BBC Sounds.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As we wait to see who will be named the new preferred bidder at Sheffield Wednesday, it might be worth just taking a breath.

We know there was interest from a couple of bids led by David Storch and Mike Ashley. We also understand there was at least one other interested party.

Reports this week have suggested that former Newcastle United owner Ashley would be prepared to invest £100m in the Owls if he were chosen.

I have no idea whether that is true. It's not something that has ever been communicated to me but it's also possible that in this instance, I don't have the necessary sources to confirm or deny this.

With that acknowledged, I just want to pose this question. How realistic is this?

One thing we do know for certain about Ashley is he is a very savvy businessman. But investing such a significant sum in the Owls doesn't feel like his style.

For example, presumably down the line Ashley would want to see a return on that investment. How do you make £100m back, plus a profit? The only ways are surely reaching the Premier League or selling the club.

Sheffield United were recently sold for a deal worth an approximate value of £115m. That was for a club with a lot more infrastructure than their city rivals, who had recently been in the Premier League, and at the time of purchase were serious contenders for automatic promotion back to the top flight.

Wednesday are a million miles from such an environment. They'll be in League One next year. The investment needed in infrastructure and basic work around the club is expected to be astronomical.

So, if investing to sell was a plan, making Sheffield Wednesday an asset worth more than £100m is an eye-watering challenge.

Not that Ashley, who sold Newcastle to a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium in 2021 for £305m, wouldn't be up for it, but is he likely to chuck a nine-figure sum at the project with no guarantees of success?

Therefore, the only way I can imagine this would work would be to put the majority of that investment in the squad and hope to build a team that can rapidly climb through the leagues.

That would be a massive gamble, though. It also doesn't feel like Ashley's style, to roll that particular dice knowing what the consequences are if it doesn't work. He doesn't strike me as a reckless chancer trying to buy success on the pitch.

Yet most of the discourse online right now is fixated on Ashley - partly due to his experience in football and business, which is understandable, but also, in part, due to this £100m figure being thrown around.

I think this is potentially hard on fans, who will now have expectations raised in a mighty way. They're expecting Ashley and a major money investment, potentially leaving another preferred bidder having to contend with a 'look what you could've had' scenario which may never have been entirely accurate.

It's why I think it's best for this process to play out and then the next preferred bidder, whoever it is, should have the opportunity to explain their plans for the club for supporters to digest, free of any expectations created before a decision has been made.

Image source, Opta

Sheffield Wednesday stand on the brink of more unwanted EFL history as they prepare to welcome Watford to Hillsborough on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

The Owls are already down and, after Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Derby, have lost 13 straight Championship games and their past six at home in all competitions.

One of the 11 points they have won from 36 games this season did come at Vicarage Road in December, however.

The Hornets lie ninth, six points behind the play-off places, with a game in hand on some of the sides they are chasing, following a 2-1 win at Bristol City in their last action on 27 February.

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their past 10 league games against Watford (D5 L5) since a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road in December 2013.

• Watford are unbeaten in their past six away league games against Sheffield Wednesday (W4 D2), winning this exact fixture 6-2 last season.

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their past 19 home league games (D5 L14), and failure to win here would equal the longest run in English league history (Sunderland, 20 between January-December 2017).

• Watford have lost just two of their past 11 away league games (W4 D5), having lost nine of their 11 on the road before this (D2).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in all 18 of their home league games this season, and could become the first team in English league history to fail to win 19 in a row on home soil in a single campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen commended his side after their 2-1 loss at Derby County.

Ben Brereton-Diaz gave the Rams the lead before Jerry Yates headed Wednesday level soon after.

But Matt Clarke got what proved to be the winner shortly before half time as the Owls lost for the 13th successive game.

Financially-troubled Wednesday have now gone 30 games without a league win - just the fifth side in EFL history to have such a record.

"I think we competed really, really well. We started the game really well, we were really strong, organised," he told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We have spoken about that - we could let the centre-back have the ball a little bit more because we know a big part of the game from them is a lot of crossing, and I think we closed down for this a lot.

"After 1-0 we came strong back in the game, and I think we drew 1-1 [which was] very, very deserved.

"Then, the rest of the first half, we were organised, had some good transition then I think second half was a very equal.

"You could see the boys did everything to get a result here."

Derby County will be aiming to regain some momentum in the play-off race as they host relegated bottom club Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Rams lost two straight games before finding their composure with a win over Blackburn Rovers last time out, but still remain six points adrift of the top six.

However, a tie against the struggling Owls will offer up a big opportunity to try and close the gap, while Wednesday will be looking to avoid joining Derby with a worrying winless run record against their name.

• Derby are looking for their first league double over Sheffield Wednesday since the 2013-14 campaign under Steve McClaren.

• Sheffield Wednesday won 2-1 at Pride Park last season, last enjoying successive away league wins at Derby in March 1932.

• This will be Derby manager John Eustace's 50th league game in charge – two of the last three Rams managers to reach 50 games won their 50th game (Paul Warne and Phillip Cocu), while Gary Rowett was the last to lose his 50th (0-2 vs Wolves in April 2018).

• Sheffield Wednesday have gone 29 league games without a win – only four teams have ever had 30+ consecutive winless games in Football League history; Crewe in 1956-57 (30), Cambridge United in 1983-84 (31), Derby from September 2007 to August 2008 (36) and Macclesfield Town from January 2012 to October 2018 (36).

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their last 12 league games, with Sunderland between January and August 2003 the last side to have a longer losing run in the top-four tiers (17 in a row).

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield reporter

Image source, Getty Images

We are coming to the end of the latest critical week at Sheffield Wednesday.

Final offers for the club are due on Friday. That does not mean everything will necessarily be cut and dried by the weekend.

If you are planning to spend a day furiously refreshing your X timeline waiting for news, just be aware there are things that need to happen before anything is confirmed.

Offers will need to be evaluated. You have then got legal terms to be agreed by both sides. There is also a deposit to be paid.

Even so, Wednesday fans will be eager to find out who the next preferred bidder is.

There are two parties who were involved when the last preferred bidder was announced, believed to David Storch and Mike Ashley-fronted bids.

There were two other interested parties who showed interest who previously didn't provide proof of funds during the last round of bids.

As first reported by the Sheffield Star earlier this week,, external a group involving Charlie Methven is believed to have shown interest. There was another group - but we have been unable to stand-up who it is, or whether they are planning an actual offer.

It looks most likely to be Storch or Ashley. It felt a little bit like that in December though and then, surprisingly, the James Bord-led consortium emerged to claim preferred bidder status.

There are a few things to contemplate as we reach the latest finish line.

I think most fans appreciate the Titanic size of the task facing any new owner at Wednesday.

For those not aware, the amount of investment required to get the club up to speed is absolutely eye-watering.

The stadium, training ground and squad need huge amounts of work. Right off the bat a lot of money is going to need to be spent on things people have no idea need urgent attention.

The infrastructure has been neglected for far too long.

'A proper plan is needed'

The plan cannot be to make the same mistakes as Dejphon Chansiri.

You cannot spend a bit on the team, hope for the best, and if that does not work, oh dear.

A proper plan for the long-term future of the club is badly needed.

The other important thing is to make this an actual 'club' again.

We get to work with six professional clubs on our patch. They are all a bit different.

Some are better than others when it comes to respecting their fans, treating them like supporters not customers and communicating.

Wednesday's new owners need to bring everyone together and channel the spirit we saw when the club went into administration.

The fanbase can be a fantastic asset if treated properly. You will get a lot of patience with Owls fans and they will respond if they feel like they're part of the fabric of the club and not just a means to make money.

Work closely with the Supporters Trust. Have a shadow board like the one that has been a huge success at Doncaster Rovers and has since been created at Sheffield United.

Communicate. Find your easy wins - like keeping the old badge, having a proper home hit, making tickets affordable.

Give the staff energy and trust them, especially after all they have been through, sticking by the club. They deserve to be injected with enthusiasm.

Have the kind of long-term plan that has been missing at a club that has seemingly lived eternally in the short-term.

Adam Cottier
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

When Sheffield Wednesday begin the League One season in August they will not be sure of many things.

But what they will be certain of is unwavering support from their fans - fans who could be forgiven for feeling downtrodden and bereft of hope as this most distressing of seasons edges towards its conclusion.

On Saturday, that same support helped galvanise their team as they threatened a second-half fightback against Southampton that sadly, for them, never fully materialised.

The loudest of cheers greeted Jerry Yates' first goal for the club, only Wednesday's third of the calendar year. The encouragement was audible every time the hosts threatened.

It was noticeable in the upper section of Hillsborough's South Stand - the area which houses the press box - that there were lots of young Wednesday fans, enjoying activities in the concourse put on by the club, there to enjoy the simple joy of a football match with parents, guardians and those closest to them.

They all joined in with the shouts of encouragement when Wednesday summoned some quality on the pitch. There was no expression of disdain for a team on its way to a 12th successive Championship loss.

The Owls may not win another game this season. They might start next season on minus 15 points. But their fans will likely still swell their old stadium with that kind of support and sell out away ends up and down the land.

Wednesday need a viable buyer soon, no question.

But there is also, it appears, no doubt fans will remain loyal, however difficult things are at the moment or how bleak the future may look.

The spirited display on and off the pitch on Saturday also gave an indication as to why Henrik Pedersen wants to remain in charge.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen was "proud" of his players despite their 3-1 defeat by Southampton at Hillsborough.

Goals from James Bree, Ryan Manning and Taylor Harwood-Bellis secured victory for the Saints, despite Jerry Yates initially halving the deficit.

Pedersen praised his players for not dropping their efforts against a strong side.

"I think they put all on the pitch what they could today," he said. "We played a fantastic team in Southampton with strong individuals and a strong team.

"The boys played a really strong second half and at 2-1, we had possibilities, then again [conceded] a set-piece goal for 3-1. But at 3-1, we still had a go, we still had chances and put pressure on them.

"I hate to lose but I'm so proud of the players."

He added that the already-relegated Owls showed grit and determination having had fewer days to prepare than recent opponents.

"It's easy to show who you are when everything is smooth, everything goes well and you win football games," Pedersen said.

"But to show who you are, in a third game in six days when [midweek hosts] Norwich had one day extra, when Southampton had one day extra, to show so much character, so much personality, I can only be proud of them."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Image source, Opta

In-form Southampton will look to continue their surge towards the Championship play-off places when they visit already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

The Saints have put together a seven-game unbeaten run (W5 D2) to climb from 15th and 10 points adrift of the play-offs up to seventh and within four points of Wrexham in sixth.

Off-field issues have completely overshadowed this season for the Owls, who have lost 11 games in a row - scoring only two goals in that run - and won just one of their 34 league games.

• Sheffield Wednesday have lost their past five league games against Southampton, their joint-longest losing run against the Saints (also five between 1999 and 2006).

• Southampton have won their previous two away league games against Sheffield Wednesday, never before winning three consecutive visits to Hillsborough.

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their 17 home league games this season – only Sunderland (18 in the Premier League in 2005-06) have had a longer winless run at home from the start of a campaign in English league history.

• Southampton have won their past two away league games, last winning more consecutively in December 2019/January 2020 (4).

• Southampton's Leo Scienza has been directly involved in three goals in his past three Championship away games (1 goal, 2 assists), as many as in his first 10 league games on the road for the Saints (2 goals, 1 assist).

Image source, PA Media

The consortium led by James Bord confirmed on Wednesday it was pulling out of its attempted takeover of Sheffield Wednesday, two months after being named as the preferred bidder.

We asked for your thoughts on the latest situation. This is what some of you said:

John: We want the best owners who offer us stability. Cryptocurrency and gambling firms are the complete opposite of this. It is probably, long term, the best outcome but boy it's tough being a Wednesday fan right now.

Simon: Terrified by the prospect of a 15-point deduction to kick-off League One. Makes the rebuild even harder than it already is. Hopefully someone comes in, understands the scale of the challenge and is committed to seeing through. Still feeling positive about the future though - anything is better than where we were prior to October!

Graham: SWFC's rich history, former pedigree and large and loyal fan base all point to a club that, with a suitably ambitious vision, the right level of investment and strategic acumen, can be a major success again. Simon Jordan should front a joint venture of interested consortia.

Rob: I was hoping this would be sorted in time for decent pre-season for next term. Given how long it has taken to get to here, I am now preparing myself for another season of misery!

Anthony W: Was disappointed that the Bord consortium was the preferred bidder in the first place. Their rationale however seems strange. I assume it is on the basis that a few hundred million needs spending over the next few years.

Paul: Appalling to hear that this has happened, the administration team should burden some responsibility for this. Giving preferred bidder status to a group who now we now see were obviously not fully committed is atrocious.

Mike: Elements of the Bord approach sounded exciting but there was so little to go on. It didn't feel like there was loads of enthusiasm among the fanbase - although we obviously never got to hear from them.

It raises concerns about a points deduction next season and potentially an even longer period of uncertainty and lack of time for planning for next season. We could really do with the boost of a takeover completing and new owners exciting fans about the future.

Paul: Glad the Bord consortium has pulled out. Their overpricing shows they did not do their initial due diligence properly and are not the right fit to bring some stability.

Mike Ashley as a hard headed businessman decreased his bid as he could see how he needs to spend putting the club right rather than paying Chansiri as a creditor.

The administrators do not look good and need to up their game. Wednesday are an embarrassment to all their fans breaking more and more records to becoming the worst EFL team ever. Enough please!

Mat the Sheffield Owl: In the long term the action of pulling out speaks volumes of a group of individuals who clearly don't have sufficient funds and ambition to take it forward. For once they have seen that this would be too much of a bite to swallow.

I know that Mr Ashley is not without his own back story, however, he is a businessman who knows how to revive failing businesses and has experience of running football clubs.

Although Newcastle supporters would disagree, the one thing they can't deny is that he stabilised and moved them on to bigger and better things. Hopefully he is still interested all but of a more knocked down price.

Steve: The administrator accepted an implausibly high offer. They would say their first duty was to the creditors. But this outcome was inevitable. Can we please select an experienced and competent preferred bidder?

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen hopes to find out the next steps in the club's takeover saga on Thursday after seeing his side beaten at Norwich City.

The match kicked-off just hours after the James Bord consortium, named as preferred bidders just before Christmas, ended their interest in the club.

"I had to focus on the game the whole day so I only heard (about the consortium) like the other employees at the club," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I only know the administrator should have a plan B for how we can come quick to the next step so I look forward to further progress.

"I will speak tomorrow so I can update the players and then we can take it from there."

Joe Emery, 19, came closest to a goal for Wednesday with a second-half header in only his second league appearance for the Owls, who also sent on 17-year-old Will Grainger as a late substitute.

The players and staff gathered together after the final whistle to applaud the travelling Owls support.

"We're just relegated and so many fans are coming down on a long trip to Norwich, the most important thing was to make them proud," Pedersen added.

"The boys played for the shirt and the last moment where we were all together because we want to say thank you for this amazing support - it shows why we are the club we are and can have a bright future."