Sheffield Wednesday have sacked Henrik Pedersen after less than 15 months in charge. Two defeats in five days finished him, and the second of them, a 2-0 loss at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, came with the away end chanting for him to go.
The Owls were two down inside 17 minutes in that South Yorkshire derby. Matt Hamshaw takes over on an interim basis and will pick the side for Tuesday's visit of sixth-placed Cambridge United. Hamshaw joined Wednesday's coaching staff in August, having been sacked by Rotherham United last season after less than a year in charge there.
Eighth in the table, and still not enough
What makes the decision unusual is that Wednesday are not in trouble. After 11 games they sit eighth in League One, two points off the play-off places. Pedersen won four of his first five league matches this season, including a 7-2 home win over Bromley. The club's statement credited him with providing "stability and leadership" during what it called an exceptional period in its history.
Sporting director Simon Wilson was blunter about why that was not enough. The club had expected a difficult start, he said, but wanted "a recognisable style of play and greater consistency in our performances". His verdict: "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."
The form behind the league position backs him. One win in six, no goals at all in four of those games, and a 2-0 defeat at Notts County on Tuesday before Saturday's trip to Doncaster.
A tactical gamble that lasted 20 minutes
At Doncaster, Pedersen switched to a 3-5-2 and asked Kieran Morrison, an attacking winger on Liverpool's books, to play left wing-back. Nobody who has watched Morrison would call him a defensive player at this stage. Twenty minutes in, Wednesday were two down and Pedersen had abandoned the shape and gone back to a four. Making a bold call and reversing it before a quarter of the match has gone is a hard look to recover from.
Pedersen heard the chants. "I'm hurting like they are hurt," he told BBC Radio Sheffield afterwards. "After zero points from two games, I'm not happy... nobody is happy. I'm sure we can bounce back and have a strong season."
The job he inherited
The Dane had been Danny Rohl's assistant and signed a two-year contract when the German left by mutual consent 12 days before the start of last season. What followed was the earliest relegation in EFL history. Wednesday were hit with an 18-point penalty, went into administration, and played in front of boycotts and protests against then owner Dejphon Chansiri. They finished with two wins, 32 defeats and a goal difference of minus 60. A 2-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion on the final day was their first victory in any competition for seven months.
Chansiri's reign ended in May with a takeover by the American consortium Arise Capital Partners. The new owners gave Pedersen his chance and have now moved quickly. Their first permanent appointment will say a lot more about where this club is heading than his dismissal does.
Club business: Henrik Pedersen, 48, appointed July 2025 on a two-year deal, sacked October 2026 after less than 15 months. Final match: Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday. Matt Hamshaw takes interim charge for Tuesday's home game against Cambridge United. Wednesday are eighth in League One after 11 games.
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