With Thomas Tuchel’s men possibly heading there soon should they make it past the Democratic Republic of Congo, here at The Wednesday Word we thought we’d take a look at a trip that had a bit of everything – goals, red cards, terrible sickness and even a run-in with the local law enforcement.

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Plenty has changed since Wednesday were last in this division, and there are several teams that the Owls will face that - while they aren’t exactly unknown quantities as clubs - are in different circumstances to previous meetings.

With that in mind, and in order to get ourselves better acquainted with those that Henrik Pedersen and his side will face in 2026/27, we’ve tracked down journalists and experts from all 23 clubs that will make up the division. Part one was released recently.

In part two, which consists of M - W, there’s once more an interesting mix of promotion hopefuls, relegation battlers and possible surprise packages… They’ll all be hoping to hit the ground running in August.

Welcome back to our quick L1 guide…

Mansfield Town – Georgia Goulding

Mansfield Town will be eager to kick on from a season that saw them secure their highest league finish in almost 40 years, despite initially worrying about a relegation scrap.

Stags have already made key decisions this summer, including the arrival of David McGoldrick. Eager to sign a proven goal-scorer, McGoldrick fits the bill regardless of his age.

The puzzle pieces seem to be slotting together for Nigel Clough, who is edging closer to breaking the club’s record for most games managed.

MK Dons – Liam Connolly

As a Dons fan, I’m optimistic about our return to League One. I think we’ve got enough quality and experience to establish ourselves comfortably in League One, with room to grow, making a strong start with the addition of Charlie Goode.

"I’m expecting big seasons from the veterans Callum Paterson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, as well as the club recruiting some key players to boost the starting XI. If everything clicks, we could even have an outside shot at the play-offs.

Notts County – Adam Hassell

Notts County are looking forward to their first season back in League One for eleven years. The bulk of their Wembley promotion-winning squad have remained, with the odd addition so far.

Notts will feel they need some more experienced quality through the door to be able to compete, though staying in the third tier this year would surely constitute success.

Oxford United – Malachi Obrey

It’s been an unexpected summer already at Oxford. Matt Bloomfield has been unexpectedly replaced by the shiny new form of Aaron Ramsey. We’re yet to see what his style looks like, but he wants to be front-footed and bring elite behaviours to the U’s - the question is, can he do that in League One?

The squad has a strong core at present. There will inevitably be a few outgoings should price tags be matched and United will need to bring in some solid depth. It’s a tough season to call but certainly an interesting one.

Peterborough United – Alan Swann

Two poor League One seasons in a row have diluted optimism levels. Good players keep leaving and weaker players keep arriving. Big summer for the recruitment team ahead. It looks a much tougher League One this time around so, right now, I’d see mid-table as a success.

Plymouth Argyle – James Stables

After managerial chaos over the past three seasons, life at Argyle at the moment feels mercifully stable. After a brilliant second half of the season, keeping the heart of the squad intact is the mission. We’ve signed loanee Wes Harding on a permanent contract and will be trying to do the same for Alex Mitchell.

Whether we retain or cash in on star strikers Laurent Tolaj and Bim Pepple will dictate how much business we need to do this summer. If rumours of investment come true, it would be a game-changer - watch this space.

Reading – Ramy Abou-Setta

It’s yet to be seen what Reading can achieve under Leam Richardson with a pre-season a ‘must’, as the former Wigan manager consistently repeated throughout the last League One season. There is still the possibility that the Royals could lose starter Charlie Savage and fan-favourite Andy Rinomhota, which could put a dent in the squad’s ability to perform next season if not replaced swiftly with the right profiles.

Matt Ritchie has also left following the announcement of his retirement and return to Bournemouth as a Technical Director - leaving the recruitment team with another gap to plug. It’s really unclear how Reading will fare next season with a considerable amount of changes happening on the pitch and behind the scenes - but they have made their goal clear promotion back into the Championship.

Stevenage – Neil Metcalfe

Reaching the League One play-offs is always going to be a tough ask for Stevenage but they managed it last year and deservedly so. That lifted the hopes that Boro could repeat the trick and while a quiet start to the summer hasn’t doused them entirely, they have cooled slightly, not helped by the loss of defender Charlie Goode and the expected departure of midfielder Harvey White. Still, hope springs eternal they say, and Boro are a team that love upsetting the odds.

Stockport County – Sam Byrne

After a summer of major change, Stockport probably enter the season as one of League One’s biggest unknowns. With Simon Wilson and Dave Challinor departing, Jimmy McNulty takes Challinor’s place and Damien Allen has been promoted from within to effectively replace Wilson.

It feels like the real end of an era for County, so it really does feel like the club’s first unpredictable season (in terms of league position) in several years.

Wigan Athletic – Paul Kendrick

Wigan Athletic remain something of a blank canvas at the moment. From last season’s squad, 14 players have left, eight are still to re-sign, and five are on the transfer list.

Two new signings have arrived - but that’s barely touched the sides. Gary Caldwell won this division with Wigan in 2015/16. This time, however, he’ll have a mid-table - as opposed to the highest - budget to work with.

Wycombe Wanderers – James Richings

It will be Wycombe’s sixth consecutive season in League One following their relegation from the Championship in 2021, with the club finishing in the top half in each of those campaigns. Two of those seasons have ended in play-off heartbreak, with promotion narrowly missed.

The club was taken over in 2024 by Feliciana EFL Limited, fronted by Georgian-Kazakhstani billionaire Mikheil Lomtadze, whose ambition is to deliver Premier League football within the next decade.

The Chairboys have made steady progress since 2021, but after 2025 and a somewhat different 2026, could 2027 finally be their year?

We’ll be touching base with all 23 of these excellent journalists right either before the opening game or just after the transfer window closes - and we’ll see if their opinions on what lies ahead for their respective clubs has got better… Or worse.

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The 17-year-old is away with Wales U19s as he talks to The Wednesday Word, and – just like at club level – he’s playing further up the age tiers than he probably should be. In the past two years he’s gone from banging in goals alongside Caelan-Kole Cadamarteri for the U18s, to finding form for the U21s, to scoring his first senior goal for his boyhood club.

At every turn he’s technically been too young to do what he’s doing. Add in his time away with his national team, and he’s barely had a chance to take it all in.

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Wednesday is practically all the 21-year-old has ever known, joining his boyhood club at the young age of nine before honing his craft at Middlewood Road prior to his step up into the seniors under Darren Moore.

A loan spell with Carlisle United gave him a first taste at regular first-team football, and a year ago he became a fully-fledged international after making his debut for Zimbabwe out in Morocco. Then came the 2025/26 campaign as he became one of the more experienced players almost overnight amid a plethora of exits.

Now, after 35 Championship appearances, a first professional goal for the club, and a mini tournament with the Warriors, Fusire is enjoying some downtime before the work starts again over at S6.

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Plenty has changed since Wednesday were last in this division,and there are several teams that the Owls will face that - while they aren’t exactly unknown quantities as clubs - are in different circumstances to previous meetings.

With that in mind, and in order to get ourselves better acquainted with those that Henrik Pedersen and his side will face in 2026/27, we’ve tracked down journalists and experts from all 23 clubs that will make up the division.

In part one, which consists of A - L, there’s a mixture of promotion hopefuls, relegation battles and maybe-men… All of whom are hoping to hit the ground running in August.

Welcome to our quick L1 guide…

AFC Wimbledon – Matt Singfield

I am expecting a very tough season in League One. Credit must go to Johnnie Jackson for keeping us safe on the penultimate day last season, but it will be a challenge to replicate that. With one of the smallest budgets in the EFL, surviving another campaign in the third tier would be a huge success.

Barnsley – Doug O’Kane

Barnsley will be looking to arrest a slide of five seasons in which they have finished in a lower place than the last. Daniel Stendel is hugely popular but this squad is nowhere near as proven, or complete, as when he arrived in 2018. Players are expected to be sold but the Reds are confident of a strong summer of incoming transfers.

Blackpool – Amos Wynn

Blackpool have a point to prove heading into the new season. They started the last campaign with ambitions of fighting for promotion, but ended up in a relegation battle.

While it was touch and go for long periods, the Seasiders ultimately ended up surviving comfortably, and will need to build on their strong form from the last nine games.

Having gone big last summer, this year could be about ensuring recruitment is more precise, and giving Ian Evatt the tools he needs to play a certain brand of football.

Bradford City – Nathan Atkinson

City will be buoyed after coming fourth in their first season back in League One for seven years… But losing in the play-off semis was a bitter pill to swallow, as is captain Max Power’s departure to Wigan.

However, they lacked a prolific goalscorer last season, which they may have already resolved by signing Burton hotshot Jake Beesley.

Bromley – Machel St Patrick Hewitt

As Bromley approach their inaugural season in League One, there is eager anticipation about the challenge that awaits. There is no doubt that Bromley will enter the new season with the same playing style that has served them so well and delivered two promotions in three seasons.

However, there will have to be upgrades if Bromley are to not face a season of struggle. Andy Woodman has a history of pulling rabbits out of the transfer bag. Expectation is the same again.

Burton Albion – David Wilson-Turner

Burton are heading into their 9th consecutive season as a League One club, the longest of any 2026-27 participant, and I am hopeful that we can begin to change the narrative of our many relegation battles in previous seasons.

Under Gary Bowyer, we have steadily improved since his appointment in December 2024, and despite the expected loss of some assets this summer, it is hoped we can continue our upward trajectory this season!

Cambridge United – Liam Apicella

Survival - that will be the first aim for Cambridge. But with a driven character like Neil Harris at the helm, there is a sense that they will be looking for a little more than that.

Recruitment will be key. Some big characters and leaders have left this summer, and they need replacing. Although unproven at the level, Callum Stead certainly looks a good start to their business

Doncaster Rovers – Ricky Charlesworth

Grant McCann’s second spell as Rovers manager, to date, has been constant improvement year-on-year but this season poses arguably the toughest challenge in replicating that feat.

If they can hang on to star men Bailey and Molyneux and add some oven-ready League One performers then a top 10 finish is more than achievable.

Huddersfield Town - Steven Chicken

This will be Huddersfield’s third season in League One after a pair of disappointing campaigns finishing several places short of the play-offs. Hopefully mid-season sporting director appointment Chris Markham – formerly of Bolton – and new head coach Martin Drury can make it third time the charm.

Adding more intensity, athleticism and consistency is a priority for a side that attacked well but couldn’t defend in the first half of last season, and vice versa for much of the latter half.

Leicester City – Josh Holland

Leicester find themselves in possibly their lowest state in their 142-year history. Relegation to League One after plotting an instant return to the Premier League means a rebuild is a must. Two months before the 26/27 season kicks-off and the wheels are slowly beginning to turn.

Russell Martin is the frontrunner to take over from Gary Rowett but the ex-Rangers boss hasn’t said yes just yet. His primary job, or whoever comes in, will be to trim the squad and reconnect with the fans.

Leyton Orient - Brendan Pitcher

The repercussions of Richie Wellens’ quite astonishing rant that followed Leyton Orient’s final day survival are still being felt around E10. A number of players remain on the transfer list with no sign of movement as yet. League One Player of the Season Dom Ballard is almost certain to follow them out the exit door.

It’s certainly going to be a challenge for Wellens and incoming Director of Football Scott Mitchell to knit things together ahead of the upcoming season with survival once again the key aim.

Luton Town – James Cunliffe

Luton look serious about mounting a promotion challenge. Securing Jordan Clark and Liam Walsh on new deals could prove their best business of the summer, unless they land Kasey Palmer permanently from Hull. Jack

Wilshere wanted recruitment done early and to hit the ground running when the season starts. With George Johnston signed from Bolton and some players already back training, they’re backing up their words.

Stay tuned right here on The Wednesday Word as we wrap up with part two with M - W, and we’ll also be touching base with all of our experts after the transfer window closes to see if their viewpoints have changed at all.

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Unlike a lot of his teammates, the 20-year-old isn’t a local. But while he’s not a Sheffield lad by birth, after spending the best part of a decade in blue and white, Moses knows exactly what this football club means to the people that support it.

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It’s been many years since John Sheridan donned international colours to represent the Owls on the biggest stage for the Republic of Ireland, but even before that the list wasn’t exactly huge. Roland Nilsson was also at that World Cup in the USA, but had already left Hillsborough by that point due to homesickness.

With Valery’s opening game against Sweden just a couple of weeks away, we thought we’d take a look back over the years for the Wednesday players of the past to have graced the world’s greatest sporting event…

1994 – John Sheridan

This tournament was a famous one for the Republic of Ireland, with the Boys in Green making it into the Round of 16 by beating Italy and drawing with Norway either side of a defeat to Mexico. They were ultimately knocked out by the Netherlands, however.

Sheridan, who was 29 at the time, started and finished all four matches at the competition - wearing the number 10 shirt. Nilsson was also a regular in the USA as Sweden went all the way to the semi-finals before finishing in third place, but by that point had officially moved on from Hillsborough.

1990 – John Sheridan and Roland Nilsson

This competition, in Italy, was the only World Cup ever that saw two current Wednesday players play in it. Nilsson’s side had a tough time of things as they lost all three of their Group C games - all of which he started and finished - before being knocked out.

As for ‘Shez’, he was limited to just the one outing in 1990, coming on as a late substitute in Ireland’s quarter-final defeat to Italy.

1986 – Nigel Worthington

A 24-year-old Worthington picked up two of his 66 Northern Ireland caps at this tournament in Mexico, starting against both Algeria and Spain as the Green and White Army failed to escape Group D. It was the last time NI managed to qualify for the competition.

It was the last time NI managed to qualify for the competition… But also the first time that a Wednesday player had made a World Cup squad in two years.

1966 – Ron Springett

The year 1966 won’t be forgotten in English football. It was the last time the Three Lions were crowned as champions of the World, and also the last time they won a major tournament at all.

Springett was an unused substitute as England went all the way at Wembley, playing second fiddle to the great Gordon Banks, and had to wait until 2009 before being presented with a winners’ medal alongside his other non-playing teammates.

1962 – Ron Springett and Peter Swan

Chile 1962 wasn’t as successful, of course, but the former Owls stopper certainly played a bigger role in it as England made it through to the quarter-finals before being beaten by a Garrincha-inspired Brazilian outfit.

Centre back, Peter Swan, was also part of that squad as well - but was left on the bench for all four games as a 21-year-old Bobby Moore started to make a name for himself.

1954 – Albert Quixall

Lastly, or should we say firstly, there’s the exceptional Albert Quixall. To this day he’s the only Sheffield-born Owl to be named in a World Cup squad. Aged 20 he was the youngest player in Walter Winterbottom’s side, and had to make do for a place on the bench.

Quixall was unused as England drew with Belgium, beat Switzerland and lost to Uruguay, with the Three Lions being eliminated in the quarters in Basel.

How many games Valery plays in Mexico and America remains to be seen, and it’s likely that he won’t be an Owl for much longer after the tournament ends… But if he features in all three of their Group F matches then Wednesday could pocket upwards of around £130,000 thanks to the FIFA Club Benefits Programme.

Whatever happens after the tournament, the full back is set to become the first SWFC player to feature on the biggest stage in over 30 years. And that’s at least something.

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Arise Capital Partners, as well as their new CEO, David Bruce, and incoming Sporting Director, Simon Wilson, are eager to hit the ground running ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, and it’s known that Henrik Pedersen and his recruitment team are doing their thing behind the scenes as League One awaits.

There are plenty of differences between England’s second and third tiers when it comes to quality, style of football and the finances involved, but there are also rule changes that Wednesday need to make sure that they adhere to after dropping down a division.

Squad limits, substitution numbers and Elite Significant Contribution (ESC) spots will all be different now as the Owls seek a speedy return to the Championship, and they all have to be considered as Wednesday put together their squad for the season ahead.

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Thanks to the likes of Dave, James, David, Lewis, Drabbs, Nigel, Ddjd and Lucy for sending in their questions - I’ll be doing more of these going forward, so keep your eyes on the chat.

Would you like to see 'Greggers’ on board in the youth setup at Middlewood Road?

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It’s already been confirmed that there will be no Owls in the Park event this year as Wednesday’s new owners get to grips with the vast array of issues that need solving at Hillsborough following their takeover, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a nice summer get-together for Wednesdayites.

Following the success of Owls in the Yard last year, the popular Wednesday podcasters have explained that it will be back for a second edition on August 2nd, with SteelYard Kelham playing host once more. It’s set to take place between 1-pm and 5pm, with ticket details being released shortly.

Dan Fudge, one of the main organisers from The Wednesday Week, is excited to see what awaits this year after a couple of legends rocked up last August.

“Last year OITY caught us a little by surprise,” he told TWW. “With everything that was happening at the club during the summer of the club (rightfully so) cancelled the annual Owls in the Park event.

“That event was always a great curtain-raiser to get everybody together and keep people engaged with their football club so we thought we would do something on a smaller scale.

“The event itself was amazing! We had activations from local businesses and exhibitions such as ‘Yard Ball’ and ‘Sheffield, Home of football’. Our fave, Tom Burton (Calling Mr Meadows) was there too, selling some of his wares - I know he’s excited about it this time round.

“Last year we also had music from local band, The Outcharms, who our very own Stevie Spence used to teach back in the day (which was a hilarious surprise to me! Given how old it made him feel…)

Owls in the Yard 2026 is coming

“We also had appearances from Sheffield Wednesday legend Lee Bullen and local hero Lee Gregory, talking about their experiences at Sheffield Wednesday on stage. It was absolutely surreal to see 1000 people all stood in silence whilst these men spoke so passionately about the club.

“I definitely took some learnings from last year, and hopefully this time around we can make it better. At the time I was really blown away by everybody’s desire to get together and engage with fellow Wednesday fans, given that the club was going through such turmoil at the time.

“With us being a nonprofit organisation, we had the opportunity to keep costs low and the brilliant Kelham Island site really helped us out with that.

“The hard work begins now and it’s a good chance to keep an eye on my hairline(!) as last year I felt I was at stress levels only known by fighter pilots (but in a good way). I feel this year is going to be bigger and louder which as many of you may know - is right up my street!”

More details on OITY will follow in due course, but with the Park not an option this time around, it might be worth heading over to the Yard instead.

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We recently hit 4,000 subscribers here at TWW, and for that we’re incredibly grateful. This giveaway was for those who went that extra step further by signing up for a full subscription…

And the winner was…

Iain R!

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Here’s Tom Burton AKA Calling Mr Meadows:

If you’re interested in checking out Tom’s wares, you can find his eBay shop by clicking this link, and check out his Instagram page below for some fantastic Owls gear.

Thanks for being part of The Wednesday Word family. Your fiver a month helps fund the entire project - whether it’s the articles, the YouTube or the social media platforms. So your support is hugely appreciated!

David Storch and his Arise consortium have their hands full as a new dawn rises at Hillsborough, and they’ve appointed David Bruce as the new Chief Executive Officer to take the lead on many of the changes being implemented.

The work might be starting to take shape now, with work having commenced at the stadium, the training ground and elsewhere around the club, but it’s not something that’s just happened overnight.

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The Owls confirmed on Saturday the list of players who would be officially moving on at the end of June, including those who will see their current loan spells come to an end.

In the end there were no major shocks, with the big takeaway being the departure of Dominic Iorfa after over seven years at Hillsborough. Also leaving are Nathaniel Chalobah, Harry Evers, Junior Kamwa, Marvelous Nakamba, Favour Onukwuli, Rio Shipston and Zain Silcott-Duberry.

Tayo Adaramola, Murphy Cooper, Jaden Heskey, Joel Ndala and Jerry Yates, meanwhile, will return to their parent clubs - for the time being, at least.

Also confirmed on Saturday were the full list of players who have had options exercised for the 2026/27 campaign, as well as those who the club are keen to see stick around.

Taking all of yesterday’s information into account, here’s a look at where things stand for Henrik Pedersen and his side heading into the new campaign.

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The Wednesday Word has already reported on where things are at for many of the youngsters ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, but with them having all been separate stories we thought we’d put together a handy guide for you.

With the season now at an end, the likes of Jonathan Pepper, Andy Sharp, Jordan Broadbent and the whole academy team have been working hard behind the scenes to put things in place for the campaign ahead. Unfortunately there will be plenty of players who have now donned Owls colours for the last time.

We’re expecting some kind of first team retained list in the near future, and it could be that one for the younger lads comes at the same time.

Anyway, here’s what we know about the two groups of players underneath Henrik Pedersen’s first team

Wednesday’s U21s

In terms of the goalkeepers, the two to keep an eye on for right now are Logan Stretch and Jack Phillips. It’s understood that the club are eager for both to remain part of things for the campaign ahead.

Defensively, there are still plenty of question marks over who will and won’t be part of things next season. Ernie Weaver almost certainly will be, with the club holding a one-year option on his contract, and there are talks over new deals for Reece Johnson and Joe Emery, too. It’s unknown at this point where things stand contractually for both Cole McGhee and Harry Evers, however the former is expected to stick around.

Mackenzie Maltby and Gui Siqueira, as reported by TWW, have been invited back for preseason after lengthy injuries in 2025/26, and will be hoping to secure deals to remain at Hillsborough. Elsewhere, it’s hoped that Kailen Hatfield will sign his first professional deal and join the U21 ranks.

In midfield, it’s already been confirmed that Rio Shipston will be moving on, while Henrik Pedersen has made it clear that they want to finalise a new contract for Jarvis Thornton as his current deal comes to an end.

It’s understood that there is also hope to sort out a contract for Bruno Fernandes, while details around Denny Oliver’s contract aren’t clear at this stage. The latter will be hoping to remain at Middlewood Road, too. A new addition to the setup could be U18s midfielder, Aodhan Sopala, who the club want to sign a first pro deal.

Then there’s the attackers. Wednesday have a one-year option on George Brown that they’re expected to exercise, while there will also be a desire to make sure Devlan Moses stays in blue and white. Junior Kamwa and Favour Onukwuli, however, may have now played their last game for the club.

Wednesday’s U18s

There’s likely to be a big turnover at U18 level, too. Scholarships will be ending, scholarships will be starting, and plenty of others will have another year to showcase their ability as they hope to land professional contracts.

As has so often been the case, Wednesday have some exciting goalkeeping talents coming through. Oliver Bramhall and Thomas Streets are the two that have caught the eye, but there’s also Charlie Hobbs. The latter could potentially be moving on this summer.

In defence, we could potentially see Jacob Jessop move on. The likes of Perry Ridge, Noah Dixon, Jack Barraclough and Reuben Selby, meanwhile, will start the second year of their scholarships.

The second-year midfielders consist of James Kay, Kleven De Oliveira and Harry Chadbourne, but there are question marks over Daniel Da Costa and Liam Clayton as their scholarships comes to an end.

Further up the field, we’ll see Charlie Robinson return for the second year of his scholarship, and Joel Akpobi will form part of Broadbent’s attack as well. With Will Grainger having quickly climbed up to form part of Pedersen’s senior ranks, they’ll be hoping that another young striking talent puts up his hand in the campaign ahead.

Newcomers to the setup will be Bramhall Jamie Darley, Roman Cawley, Charlie Liddell, Harrison Langford, Dennis Kohn, while the front row sees Louis Hutchison, Logan Scott, Benjamin Sedgwick and Oscar Wildman.

A few of them have already played at this level, and there are high expectations for many. Sedgwick in particular, will be one that fans keep an eye on given that he’s the son of former Owl, Chris.

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As things stand there are only nine players who could be classed as seniors who are contracted to the club for next season, and a handful of them aren’t exactly experienced professionals.

With the final whistle having now been blown for the first team, U21s and U18s, we thought we’d give you a whistlestop tour of what our current understanding is on the state of play going into the 2026/27 campaign.

The contracted

Pierce Charles, Di’Shon Bernard, Yan Valery, Sean Fusire, Gabriel Otegbayo, Ike Ugbo, Jamal Lowe, Olaf Kobacki and Charlie McNeill are all believed to have deals going into next season.

In terms of actual confirmations, only Rio Shipston and Nathaniel Chalobah have made their departures public up to now, but more of those are set to come in the coming days and weeks. There’s also an expectation that Valery will be sold this summer, most likely after the World Cup.

Meanwhile, there may well be some talk of new and improved deals - especially as relegation wage drops kick in - with Charles front and centre on that front. Everybody else, though will no longer be an Owl come July 1st as things stand.

The options

There are options, of course, with the club having the opportunity to extend the deals of Liam Palmer, Svante Ingelsson, Ernie Weaver and George Brown, although there’s no immediate rush on that front given that they have until the third Saturday in May - which is the 16th this year.

It’s expected that Ingelsson, Weaver and Brown will all have their options exercised, however it’s believed that there are discussions taking place regarding the future of Palmer.

Speaking to The Wednesday Word on Tuesday, the Owls captain said, “I’ve not spoken to Henrik since the game on Saturday, I know he’s been busy - as have the owners. They’ve probably got a list as big as their arm to sort out, but we’ll probably go for a bit of food in the next few days.

“I know he’s going back to Denmark as well, but we’ll catch up before that and we’ll talk shop.”

The possibles

Of those who will see their contracts expire this summer, it is unknown at this point exactly who is in Pedersen’s plans for the 2026/27 campaign.

Two that we do know, however, are experienced defenders - Max Lowe and Liam Cooper. It’s understood that early talks have been had, with both players very open to the idea of joining the fight in League One, but as of now there is nothing official with either.

Cooper, speaking to TWW this week, said, ““Hopefully the boys can take that into next season, and I can be a part of that. We’ll see on that, it’s in the club’s hands as we speak. There are amazing people at the club, amazing support, and it resonates really well with myself in terms of how I see life and football, so hopefully I can be a part of things next year. We’ll leave that to those in power, but I’ll do everything I can do be here.”

Jarvis Thornton is set to be offered a new deal after some solid showings in his debut Championship season, and Pedersen has made it clear that he’d like to see the 20-year-old remain at the club for the upcoming campaign.

Young Mackenzie Maltby, who featured in the last two games of the season, could well be offered a new contract as well, but it’s unknown right now as to when that decision will be made.

Other young players such as Zain Silcott-Duberry, Logan Stretch, Reece Johnson, Bruno Fernandes, Devlan Moses, Jack Phillips and Joe Emery fall into the ‘unknown’ category for now given a lack of detail on their individual contract situations.

The loanees

Murphy Cooper and Jerry Yates have said their goodbyes internally, while Joel Ndala has been out of the picture for a little while now. With Cooper and Yates, they could be options that are revisited next season depending on what happens, while Ndala will simply return to Manchester City.

Things could be a bit more interesting when it comes to both Tayo Adaramola and Jaden Heskey, though. It’s understood that both players have left a very positive impression on the technical team at Hillsborough, and that permanent moves are being weighed up for both of them.

Wednesday are no longer bound by an inability to spend transfer fees, and while it’s unlikely that they’ll be splashing big cash this summer, there has been a suggestion that deals could be struck with both Crystal Palace and City - possibly utilising future clauses rather than money up-front.

The youngsters

One name in particular is of interest to Wednesdayites, with Will Grainger having showcased his quality as the season came to an end. The 17-year-old is an exciting talent at Hillsborough, and there is a definite aim to tie him down on a first professional contract. Those talks are expected to progress in the near future.

Also set for the first pro deals are teenagers, Kailen Hatfield and Aodhan Sopala, both of whom have impressed at U18 level this season.

It will sadly be the end of the road for many, with several players from the U21s and U18s having now played their last game for the club. Definitive details on those leaving aren’t quite clear, but it is thought that Junior Kamwa and Favour Onukwuli could be among those on the way out.

The scholars

As reported yesterday, there are 10 players who will begin their Middlewood Road scholarships next season.

They are: Jamie Darley, Roman Cawley, Olly Bramhall, Charlie Liddell, Harrison Langford, Dennis Kohn, Louis Hutchison, Logan Scott, Benjamin Sedgwick and Oscar Wildman.

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Last week was a monumental one for the Owls as David Storch and his Arise consortium finally sealed their takeover of the club, ending the reign of Dejphon Chansiri at Hillsborough. Storch, alongside his son, Michael, and Tom Costin, take over a club destined for League One, but with hopes of a brighter future.

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Thanks to the likes of Tim, Neil, Maverick, Matt, David, Steve and Kate for sending in their questions - I’ll try and do more of these going forward.

Do you think he’s really in Sheffield’s top three for bowling? 🎳😅

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On May 5^th, down at Club de Padel in Neepsend, a ‘Yorkshire Classico’ will take place as former players from Wednesday, Sheffield United, Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United and Barnsley.

Barnsley lock horns to raise money for Weston Park Cancer Charity. The tournament has been set up by Owls coach, Pete Shuttleworth, in an attempt to raise vital funds for Weston Park Cancer Charity and their Rochelle Baxter Fund, which contributes to the Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Service.

Owls skipper, Liam Palmer, will co-captain the SWFC side alongside club legend, Barry Bannan, while Liam Cooper is their Leeds counterpart.

The likes of Marvin Johnson, Giles Coke, Aden Flint, Billy Sharpe, Brian Deane and David McGoldrick are amongst the other competitors, and ‘Palms’ says that he’s waiting to see how he matches up in comparison to the challengers from elsewhere.

“I’m still very much a padel beginner myself,” he told The Wednesday Word with a smile. “I think that’s why I’ve been given the captain’s mantle! The teams are in, so I’m looking forward to seeing how our side does. Marvin Johnson plays quite a bit, Aden Flint is coming as well - so it’ll be nice to see some old teammates.

“With all the charities around here it’s difficult to just hone in on one, but Weston Park do some fantastic work, and I’m happy to support Pete in his idea. It’s nice that the football community has come together, rivalries aside, to support this charity. I’m really looking forward to it.

“There’s quite a few people that I’m looking forward to seeing that’s not in such a pressured environment, so it’ll be nice to have a proper catch-up… I’m not sure if Baz is down to play or not yet, or if he’s first reserve, but he’s a bit of a sport billy - he’s good at golf, good at padel as well, so he’ll be itching to play. Lee Gregory is hoping to play as well, but he’s got a bit of a padel/tennis elbow at the moment.”

Palmer also heaped praise on the work done by Weston Park, saying that they relish the opportunity to give back to their community.

“Whenever you go up there and meet people that have used their services, you never know what to really expect. But spending time with patients and workers you get to see first hand what they do on a daily basis, so anything we can do as footballers with a platform to do good, even if it’s just sending a video message or having a coffee with somebody, we’re all keen to help and support. If we can make somebody’s day and put a smile on their face, we’re happy to do so.

Meanwhile, Cooper is hoping to get out on the court again once he’s recovered from his injury next month, admitting that he’s expecting it to get competitive even though it is all for a good cause.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he told TWW. “Pete Shuttleworth is heavily involved with his wife, and getting it out there - running the socials and stuff like that. As soon as Pete mentioned it I jumped at the chance. I don’t know as we speak now whether I’ll be able to play obviously with the injury, but hopefully I’ll be there and playing.

“I’ve got Brian Deane involved, as well as Seb Carole and Adam Forshaw who have all played for Leeds, so it’ll be interesting to get around everyone. I don’t know how my padel game is going to compare, I’ve not seen them play, but I was playing a lot in the off-season and when I wasn’t playing.

“The more fans we can get there, the better. Tickets have gone live and I know it’s going to be a great event. Obviously it’s going to be competitive, too, we’re all competitive animals. I’m sure there will be a few smashed bats, but it’s all for a good cause. Everyone’s really looking forward to it.

“We want to win!”

“Of course we want to win. I’ve been competitive since I was a kid, and I’m sure everyone else has too… We want to win, we want to get our ratings up. It’s all fun and it’s to raise money for charity, but I’m sure all the lads will be wanting to win every point.”

‘Coops’ also reiterated the importance of WP and their work, adding, “It’s all for a great cause, Weston Park do amazing things for people living with cancer and the aftercare as well. It’s something that’s very close to my heart, obviously - as with a lot of people - it’s a horrible disease that’s taken its toll on my family. It’s something I’m very proud to raise money for and be involved in.

“It’s so sad that in this day and age we can’t find a cure, but one day we’ll get there and hopefully that day isn’t too far away.”

The tournament takes place from 5pm until 8.30pm on May 5th at Club De Padel on Boyland Street, and you can get your tickets here. Watch the matches, support your team and meet the players. All money raised will go to the WPH Teenage Unit.

There hasn’t been much enjoyment to be had from this season from a Wednesdayite perspective. We’ve had points deductions and takeover tribulations, goal droughts and record-breakingly bad results.

Through it all, though, fans have been there to cheer on their team, to initiate change, and to showcase what it means to be a true supporter - through thick and thin. ‘Til the wheels off.

With that in mind, I thought it’d be nice to give something back. So I’ve teamed up with Heist Brew Co, who are a 13-minute tram ride away from Hillsborough, ahead of the potentially sold-out affair against the Baggies.

I’ll be hosting a special edition of The Wednesday Word show from Heist, where I’ll hopefully have a guest or two, and they’ve kindly offered to put on a special two-for-one beer offer for anybody who is subscribed here at TWW…

The BOGOF special will be available to anyone who is subscribed, free or otherwise, but there will be further benefits still to be confirmed for paid subscribers. We’ll be in touch about how to access the deal next week.

Doors will open at 10, two and a half hours before kick off, and you can head back afterwards after you’ve belted out ‘Honolulu Wednesday’ for a couple of hours over at S6.

If you’re already subscribed, then thank you. If you’re not, and you’d like to get a few free beers next Saturday - simply click the button below to join the family.

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It’s been made pretty clear that Henrik Pedersen will be the man tasked with leading the Owls forward should the Arise consortium complete their takeover, so the Dane will have a big say in what happens next in terms of the Wednesday squad.

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