This summer has been the most positive in a long time as the arduous rebuild of Sheffield Wednesday has begun. The changes made already have been significant and it’s clear they are backed by a plan and structure. It seems a bit alien to long-suffering Owls, as for years everything was built on short-termism and old-fashioned thinking. The only drawback is that we must remember the remnants of the Chansiri destruction still harm us, such as being under a business plan. There will also be business-led decisions you may not agree with, but any feedback must be sensible. There have been some grumbles in the past week or so, so let’s look closer at them.
The future of Henrik Pedersen
The discussion around Henrik Pedersen has been continuing since last season, and his critics have been more vocal in the past week since the 4-0 loss to Oldham. There is a belief that, despite the carnage inflicted on the club, we should have won more games last season and his style and subs cost us points.
I still think it’s impossible to judge this due to our unique circumstances. The management of the club last season also extended beyond merely picking a team and deciding tactics. It required strong man-management and resilience, which I believe he showed. The new owners were suitably impressed to give him a chance this coming season. We can only speculate on what won them over, but now it’s time to back that decision. I’m not shutting down criticism or attempting to win over hardened critics. The owners and our footballing director will not be afraid to make decisions if they sense underperformance. It will not be a free hit, and Pedersen will need to show he can match their expectations. They will know the raft of new signings will take time to bed in. There have been concerns from some fans that pre-season has not shown signs we have cohesion and style. There is a desire amongst the fan base to see more wins after suffering last season. However, there may be some early jitters as everything falls into place. But if some fans are not willing to give him a chance and boos ring out immediately, some perspective is needed. Although we have suffered, more patience is needed this season. A negative atmosphere will nullify the advantage of the record-breaking season ticket sales. My final point on this is that other promotion seasons from League One all had bumps along the way. So, we must expect them again, especially since we are starting one during such a huge rebuild.
Wigfield v Ugbo
The online spat between Kris Wigfield and Iké Ugbo was brief, but a few punches were pulled. Although Kris Wigfield, from a professional point of view, was incorrect, I understand the sentiment. He is a passionate fan and was heavily involved with events at the club during the last few months. There was still a bit of confusion as to what was behind Ugbo’s appalling contributions and exclusion from the squad. Maybe Ugbo’s immature social media post just pushed Kris Wigfield over the edge. He had no right to show such disrespect after the past 2 seasons. It was clear from Kris Wigfield’s tweet that Ugbo’s behaviour and attitude have been as poor as his goalscoring record. After one last response from Ugbo, with a sly dig at the manager, it was over. The record was set straight, and Kris then stepped back from his X account. The correct ending to a short and tetchy affair, which won’t have any bearing on the season ahead. I imagine, after everyone has expressed their views on the matter, it will not rumble on.
Ticket Prices Complaints
The final issue in the past week to cause a reaction from some fans is the ticket prices for Bradford. This was always going to be a challenge for the new owners due to the experiences of the Chansiri era. This saw high ticket prices from the very first game, which was ultimately part of his non-existent strategy. The only communication on the matter was a survey basically saying, if you want better players, pay higher prices. The high prices continued as things got worse, leading to a familiarity in getting ripped off. Any subsequent communication with fans over this ceased to exist, which I believe was part of the problem. If you add in his ridiculous season ticket strategy, then it explains why ticketing is a sensitive topic amongst Wednesdayites.
I was surprised at a lack of initial communication over these ticket prices for the Bradford game. It was a sudden announcement just as some grumbles were happening after the weekend. I certainly don’t think the price strategy is just a cash grab, but being a sore topic for fans, it could have been laid out better. It is encouraging that they have taken on feedback and will review ticket prices. This is a key difference, and it shows the voice of the fans will not be ignored.
I don’t think they will be able to reduce them to the sort of prices we would want. I also understand some of the arguments in favour of the initial decision, as revenue does define our budget. There is also a smaller number of the dearest seats available due to high season ticket sales. The lack of decent away crowds may mean we need to charge clubs like Bradford a bit more.
But on the flip side, there are still fans to be convinced back. There is a cost-of-living crisis, and prices have gone up everywhere. This will naturally include ticket prices, but this is a different emotional attachment from paying more for a meal out. The relief of going to see your team and meet with friends should not be unreasonable. Is there scope to reduce ticket prices/categories and bring in multi-match deals? Could a clear message and explanation of the strategy be published to the wider fan base? As ever, fans’ suggestions can only remain suggestions, as the owners are responsible for driving revenue. This is an issue that can be fixed, and fans can be won over by a good response. However, any comparisons to Chansiri on the issue are inaccurate and an overreaction.
So, it has been an interesting few days, which have probably seen the most discussion amongst the fan base in a while. This is discussion, thankfully, far removed from topics we should never discuss as fans. The new season is fast approaching, and fans will go through the turnstiles on Saturday via the pubs and takeaways. For those who are attending, let’s hope we can get a win, as it’s a sure way to put a smile on people’s faces.