The Dane was relieved of his duties at the weekend following Saturday’s woeful 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers.
A run of just one victory in six matches prompted owners Arise to dispense with Pedersen’s services, with Wednesday slipping out of the play-off places. Sporting director Simon Wilson cited inconsistency in results, performances and style of play as the main reasons for Pedersen’s exit.
Speaking to Danish outlet TV2, Pedersen said he was shocked to lose his job. He admitted: “I didn’t see it coming, I definitely thought there would be a longer string than losing two games after a strong, strong period. I was called in and then it was done. It was a short process.”
After nine unbeaten games and then losing two, it’s of course a shock to be fired on the basis of that.
Pedersen, who departed Wednesday after less than 15 months in charge, left them in eighth position. There have been significant changes on and off the pitch since Arise purchased the club in May and Pedersen oversaw a major squad rebuild following relegation to the third tier of English football.
“I knew it would be a difficult start with 18 new players and League One having 46 games in total so there’s not much time to train,” added Pedersen. “But we’ve been really stable and have grown a lot. After nine unbeaten games and then losing two, it’s of course a shock to be fired on the basis of that.”
First-team coach Matt Hamshaw has taken over the side on a temporary basis. His first match at the helm ended in a 1-1 draw against Cambridge United. Hamshaw, a promotion winner as a player with Wednesday in 2005, would like to stay on at Hillsborough.
“I had other opportunities at other clubs before I come here,” he said. “Henrik kind of brought me here, but I’d like to think I’m a club appointment, so I’d like to think I’d stay.
“However, I’m not naive enough to think that football changes and managers may come in and see it differently. So, look, it is what it is. But it’s not about me. It’s about this club getting the right man in charge, whoever the board of directors feel that may be. Everybody coming together and then hitting our goals and targets that we need to.”
This article is available for free, but if you like what you’ve seen from The Wednesday Word, then a paid subscription would mean the world to us - and allow us to keep doing everything that we’re doing in the TWW universe. We want to keep improving, and growing, and for that we need your support! Thank you!