Shedender's Journeyman Career

Great league form mate ! Shame to go out of 2 cups but getting promoted is the main thing !

Echo what George says pal!

Keep that form up and promotion shouldn't be a problem!

It's been great form George, as much as I'm disappointed about the cup exits - the board couldn't care less about the JPT and defeating Newcastle was always going to be an uphill task. I just want to win League 1 this season.

Cheers Dan.

Easier said than done Sean but we'll try and keep the current form up as I'd love to get promoted as soon as possible.



We have been in remarkable form in League 1 as we reached the summit and we opened up a four point gap following a three one win away to Peterborough United. We entered the penultimate month of twenty sixteen looking to keep up our excellent league form with seven League 1 fixtures.


A home clash with Bolton would start the busy month as we recorded a one nil victory when William Blackwell put through his own net on seventy-one minutes.

We then travelled to Highbury three days later to take on Fleetwood as we had to come from behind to pick up maximum points when Tom Naylor gave the Cod Army a sixteenth minute lead, Jon Taylor equalised on the half hour before Tom Hopper struck a second half winner in the sixty-ninth minute.

Our second consecutive away game took us to Gillingham and we could only manage a two all draw despite Tom Hopper giving us a twenty-seventh minute lead but second half goals from David McAllister and Kyle Dixon turned the game around for the home side - Joao Teixeira salvaged an away point with a seventy-seventh minute leveller.

We returned to Hillsborough with a home game against Notts County who we defeated three one as Jon Taylor broke the deadlock on six minutes but David Foley equalised for County on twenty minutes. Further goals from Joao Teixeira and Tom Hopper from the penalty spot sealed three more points for the league leaders.

Torquay United were up next at Hillsborough and we defeated them four two in a pulsating affair. Two goals from central defender John Egan had us two up inside the opening twenty minutes before Tom Hopper added a third on sixty-four minutes, Romain Padovani pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes left before Stephen McLaughlin made it four one but Torquay scored the last goal when Mikey Drennan struck with five minutes remaining.

We then faced Burton in our third straight home game and we had to come from behind to win two one. Curtis Allen gave the Brewers a sixteenth minute lead but second half goals from Luke Jones who put through his own net and Tom Hopper sealed another three points.

An FA Cup second round trip to Wales up next and we won five three against Newport at Rodney Parade. Stephen McLaughlin gave us an excellent start when he struck on seven minutes, Richard Davies levelled from the spot but further goals from Tom Hopper, John Egan and Dale Stephens had us four one up at half time before a late Tom Hopper spot kick for his second made it five one. Newport struck two goals late on to make the score more respectable - Connor Jennings and Godwin Abadaki scoring.

As the month came to an end we had to come from behind to defeat Dagenham & Redbridge two one at Victoria Road as Mark Cullen gave the Daggers an eleventh minute lead from the spot but goals from Stephen McLaughlin and Tom Hopper turned the game around.


The gap at the top of League 1 has opened to eleven points as our excellent form continues and long may it continue, both Stevenage and Crewe are eleven points behind while Dagenham make up the top half of the table.

Almost the perfect month and running away with the title!

It's a commanding lead Dan but I can't afford to get carried away as we could go on a horrible run *fingers crossed we don't*.



Our remarkable season has saw us go eleven points clear in League 1 heading into the final month of the calendar year as we had six games awaiting us including an absolute tough trip to Millwall and Rotherham back to back while we'd host pre season league favourites but now struggling Queens Park Rangers.


We started December with a trip to Valley Parade and it turned out to be a disastrous trip as the bottom of the table Bantams won five one. Our consolation goal didn't arrive until second half stoppage time through substitute Peter Manton.

Seven days later we welcomed Crewe Alexandra to Hillsborough as we bounced back from that drubbing with a four two win as we struck twice inside the opening five minutes through Tom Hopper and Danny Ward before John Egan added a third in first half stoppage time, Joao Teixeira added a very late fourth to seal the win.

Our next game was at home to struggling Queens Park Rangers and we they inflicted more damage on themselves as an own goal from Mark Gillespie saw us win one nil.

On Boxing Day we hosted Oldham Athletic and slipped to a disappointing three one defeat as Tom Hopper scored our only goal on fifty-seven minutes, while pushing for an equaliser Oldham sealed the win in the final few minutes.

One day later (full fixture list, has to be a bug surely?) we headed to Millwall and produced a stunning three one win as Jon Taylor broke the deadlock after only a minute before he struck his second on twenty-seven minutes and then Joao Teixeira sealed the huge three points on fifty-one minutes.

New Years Eve saw us make the trip to the New York stadium in Rotherham for our final League 1 fixture of twenty sixteen and we won three two as first half goals from Tom Hopper who struck twice with John Egan scoring in between, a huge win.


Gap at the top is getting slightly bigger as we are now fourteen points clear of second placed Oldham Athletic while pre season league favourites Queens Park Rangers are currently rock bottom and in a relegation battle, can they avoid the drop? Perhaps they could but I just care on getting us promoted.

Did you know? Scoring against Rotherham United was my side scoring for the twenty-ninth consecutive game. Can we make a remarkable thirty straight games in scoring? We start twenty seventeen at home to Stevenage, the last side who stopped us scoring when they defeated us 1-0 at their home venue.

Ending the calender year fourteen points clear is one way of getting your title credentials across pal!

It's been a remarkable season to date and better than I expected Dan but I still can't get carried away.



Despite those two setbacks in December against Bradford and Oldham respectably we ended the calendar year with a fourteen point gap at the summit of League 1. The gap would stretch to an almost un-catchable twenty-one points after a sensational month that also saw us progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.


New Year started with a home game against Stevenage as we looked to score for the thirtyeth consecutive game in all competitions and that was achieved when Daniel Alfei put through his own net on ten minutes before further goals from John Egan and Peter Manton would seal a three one victory.

We then made the trip to Brunton Park five days later for an FA Cup third round tie against Carlisle and we would cause a slight upset by winning two nil thanks to goals from Joao Teixeira and left back Tyler Blackett.

We then edged out Crawley Town in a seven goal thriller, winning four three as Liverpool loanee Adam Morgan scored on twenty-eight minutes before we would strike three more times in the second half through James Knowles, Joao Teixeira and Tom Brewitt as our scoring record went up to thirty-two games, remarkable stuff.

Three days later we travelled to struggling Port Vale and defeated them three two as central defender Bailey Wright, who is departing the club in the summer scored in between two Adam Morgan goals.

Vicarage Road was our next destination for an FA Cup fourth round tie as we caused a massive upset, winning three nil away from home. On loan Liverpool central defender Tom Brewitt opened the scoring on thirty-five minutes and that's how it remained until James Tavernier inadvertently put through his own net and Tyler Blackett sealed an impressive away success.

We would then record a double over Walsall following a one nil home success when Jon Taylor struck a wonderful winning goal after seventy-seven minutes.

And the opening month of twenty seventeen would come to an end with a hard fought two one win away to Swindon Town as striker Tom Hopper struck both goals for us in the twenty-seventh and sixty-fifth minute, the hosts Swindon struck a consolation late on.


With a twenty-one point lead at the top of the League 1 table we are almost secured a minimum of a play-off spot but I won't be carried away, or satisfied until I secure the League 1 title and it's going to take a massive collapse for that not to happen. In other news, Queens Park Rangers are in deep trouble as they are bottom of the table.

Perfect month in league and cup action pal! Keep the points coming!

Great month. Doing well here mate. Surely the league is won now.

I intend to keep the points coming Dan as we look to wrap up the League 1 title as soon as possible, we're as good as promoted bar a freak slip up.

The league win is just a matter of time Charlie as even I can't mess up a twenty-one point gap.



Our recent form has been nothing short of remarkable as we entered the second month of twenty seventeen looking to secure at a play-off spot first and foremost before attempting to wrap up the League 1 title.


We started the month with a tricky trip to Deepdale but we picked up a well deserved three one win as Tom Hopper would strike twice along with attacking midfielder Joao Teixeira also on the score sheet.

Three days later we hosted Yeovil at Hillsborough as we won five two - Tom Hopper, Jon Taylor with a double, Joao Teixeira and Danny Ward all got on the scoreboard in an excellent and entertaining home win, I was extremely disappointed with the two goals we conceded though as they perhaps could have been avoided.

A trip to Bolton Wanderers was up next and a single goal from Jon Taylor on forty-two minutes wrapped up our third straight win this month.

Our FA Cup run came to an abrupt end in round five when we suffered a four one home defeat to Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Tom Hopper struck a consolation goal for ourselves on seventy-eight minutes. We played well but Forest showed their Premier League quality to see off the tie, the board are delighted though as they only expected us to reach round four.

My side returned to league action with a home game against Barnsley a week later and we won two one courtesy of two Jon Taylor goals inside the opening quarter of an hour.

We travelled to Rochdale to conclude the February month and we won our second straight game two one as both Tom Hopper and John Egan scored in the first half.


I'm pleased to announce that we've sealed a play-off spot but I'm not satisfied, I want the league title and it's not unrealistic.

Following February we find ourselves still top of the table and an astronomical twenty-seven points clear of second placed Crewe Alexandra. We currently have ninety-three points as we look set to beat the one hundred points tally, and possibly one hundred goals too.

Amazing how you not confirmed as champions even you're top by 27 points. Good results in the league. shame about loss to Forest.

Unlucky in the FA Cup but a fantastic run in the league yet again!

It's pretty mental Johno, we are so far ahead of the second place team but still not confirmed champions - it can't be too far away though, surely?

Unfortunately Nottingham Forest proved to be a step too far in the FA Cup Dan but the league has always been the priority.



March 7 2017 would be a day of celebration amongst the Sheffield Wednesday support as a three one success over Notts County was enough to finally wrap up the League 1 title and we've been doing it in style, playing attractive football throughout the season and losing only four games to date. March would also see our long goal scoring run come to an end at home to Peterborough United.


March, the penultimate month of the twenty sixteen twenty seventeen season started with a home game against Peterborough and for the first time in 42 competitive matches we failed to score, drawing nil each in an entertaining contest that could have went either way.

Three days later we travelled to Notts County and won three one in a game that also saw us crowned League 1 Champions but we had to come from behind to secure the win as Charlie Taylor had given County a third minute lead but a second half hat trick from Tom Hopper sealed the win and the title.

And we'd record our second three one victory of the month as we defeated Fleetwood at Hillsborough, goals from Tom Hopper (18), Joao Teixeira (30) and Jon Taylor (70) had us three goals up but we couldn't keep a clean sheet as the Cod Army struck a consolation goal with twelve minutes remaining through Conor Sammon.

For the second time this month we failed to find the net as Torquay demolished us three nil at Plainmoor, Connor Hunte struck on forty minutes to give the home side the lead before further goals from Liam Boyce and Philip Roberts within the last twelve minute put ease on the score.

Our final home game of the month was against Gillingham who we managed to defeat three one as John Egan's thirty-fourth minute goal had given us a well deserved half time lead before Joao Teixeira doubled the lead on sixty-eight minutes but Aaron Pierre pulled one back with fifteen minutes left, Jon Taylor completed the scoring and made it three one in the final minute.

We headed to struggling Burton Albion to conclude the penultimate month and we struggled on our travels for the second time this month, drawing one all against the relegation threatened club despite Tom Hopper firing us into a twenty-third minute lead but Luke Coulson's sixty-fifth minute leveller saw the game end in a fair draw.


Champions!! As previously stated, our three one away win in Notts County secured not only promotion to the Championship but also the League 1 title and I'm so proud as that was the main goal I wanted to achieve and now I've guided the side one step further to a Premier League return, a league I'm sure they want to play in because who wouldn't?


The last major piece of news is that following our League 1 success I have decided to sign a new contract extension that will now see me remain at Hillsborough until June 2021 and it's an extension I wanted to have despite having sixteen months remaining on my current deal. I wanted to show the players that I'm committed, even if we end up being relegated next season but I'm sure we won't be.

Well done Shedender!

Thanks Dan!



With the side securing the League 1 title last month at Notts County, the final month of the twenty sixteen twenty seventeen season saw us face four games as we looked to not only attempt to get over the one hundred point tally but also over one hundred goals in the process. We would have two home games against Dagenham and Bradford and away trips at Crewe and relegation threatened Queens Park Rangers to finish the season.


The final month of the season kicked off with Dagenham and Redbridge heading to Hillsborough and we defeated them two one. Two goals in the space of four first half minutes from left winger Danny Ward had us two goals up at half time but we couldn't hold on for a clean sheet as Gavin Massey made it two one but we held on for three points.

One week later we faced fellow Yorkshire side Bradford City at Hillsborough and despite Jimmy Kebe giving the Bantams an eleventh minute lead we bounced back in style to win four one as goals from Jon Taylor an a Tom Hopper penalty had turned the game around before half time. On seventy-three minutes Jon Taylor's second made it three one before departing central defender Bailey Wright made it four two minutes later as we won our final home game of the season.

We were then on our travels and a trip to the Alexandra Stadium awaited as Crewe defeated us four three and it was three all at half time as Scott Hogan, Joel Meadows and Yoan Gouffran had struck for the home side while Jon Taylor and two goals from Tom Hopper (one penalty) for ourselves but Hogan's second goal with three minutes left saw Crewe win the seven goal thriller.

Our season concluded with a trip to Loftus Road as Queens Park Rangers suffered back to back relegations following a well deserved three two defeat. Winger Danny Ward opened the scoring on fourteen minutes but Loic Remy equalised before further first half goals from Tom Hopper and John Egan had us three one up at half time but Remy's second of the game on seventy-two minutes was just a consolation goal.


So with the league season officially over, everyone knows we won the league as that was secured at Meadow Lane last month while Crewe Alexandra will also be joining us in the Championship by securing the second automatic promotion place. The four play-off spots were secured by Stevenage, Preston North End, Notts County and Barnsley - Stevenage would eventually go on and be promoted to the Championship, beating Preston 1-0 in the final with an extra time winner.

At the foot of the table it would be heartbreak for Queens Park Rangers who had to go through the heartbreak of back to back relegations and also suffering the heartake were Burton Albion, Fleetwood Town and Port Vale



It's been a successful night at the seasonal awards as two of my players would celebrate individual awards, and I would also win a seasonal award this season.

Our right winger Jon Taylor has won the League 1 Player of the Year award after putting in a series of high-class performances following his £1.2 million pound move from Swindon Town. He would set up twenty-one goals while chipping in with nineteen himself and eleven Player of the Match awards too.

Tom Hopper won the League 1 Golden Boot award after he finished the leagues top goalscorer this season, scoring thirty-two goals in forty-three games. An excellent return for not just any player but a free transfer from Leicester City last summer, I didn't think his return would be so excellent so I'm impressed.

I won the League 1 Manager of the Year award after I guided the club to the League 1 title, in other competitions I also guided the side to decent runs in the Capital One and FA Cups.

Lastly, five players were named in the League 1 Team of the Year award - goalkeeper Robbie Thomson, defender John Egan, wingers Jon Taylor, Danny Ward and striker Tom Hopper. All players deserve their place in the team.

After winning the League 1 title last season and comprehensively too we headed into the Championship and one step close to a Premier League return after a long, long absence but this season is going to be difficult as the media are predicting us to finish twenty-second out of the twenty-four clubs but I'm still confident, as per usual that I can defy expectations.


With no pressure on us this coming season as the minimum expectation from the board is to stay clear of relegation.

I'm very disappointed with the budgets this season as it means I'll need to look at the possibility of loanee's and free transfers (bar one that was arranged during last season) but that doesn't bother me, the transfer budget will be put into the wages and I'll overachieve this season, guaranteed. I've told the board that I believe we'll achieve a mid-table finish.


Eight games have been arranged in pre-season with seven being away from Hillsborough.

Things will start with a game away to Monaghan United before our only home friendly will be three days later against French side Nice but then we'll head to Chester, Grimbsy, Standard, Sheffield and Bristol Rovers to complete July while we will head to Parkgate to complete our pre-season programme.

As we embarked with life in the Championship following our League 1 success last season, it's going to be a tough season as the media are predicting us to finish twenty-second but I'm confident we can overachieve this season. Nine players would join the club this summer and we'd also play eight pre season fixtures too.


We only spent cash on one signing and that was Devante Cole who agreed to sign last season from Crawley Town for £215,000 while three players joined on the first day of July after agreeing pre-contracts - Craig Cathcart came from Watford while Jordan Lussey and Adam Morgan both joined from Liverpool.

Central defenders Kyle Clinton and Kieran Stewart both joined on frees along with goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, left back Robbie McIntyre and a third central defender Chardonie Milambo as he'll definitely be first choice, the rest will be rotation options as I didn't want to "destroy" the side, I've done it before and regretted it.

Ten players departed the club this summer as I released Kieran Lee, Junior N'Tame, Nauzet, Nick Blackman and Adam Eckersley while Bailey Wright, Adam Barton and David Bell headed to Nantes, St. Mirren and Portsmouth respectively. Sam Gallagher and Alex Woolford both went to feeder club Chester on-loan.


We didn't lose a single game in our pre season program, winning all the games bar a draw at Bristol Rovers.

Our best result in the bunch of friendlies has to be the two goal win over French side Nice at Hillsborough as Stephen McLaughlin scored twice while a Devante Cole hat-trick, two from Krisztian Adorjan and a Chrdonie Milambo goal saw us win six two away to Standard.

We also defeated Monaghan United, Chester, Grimbsy Town, Sheffield and Parkgate.

Following a successful pre season that didn't see us lose a single game we approached the new Championship campaign with confidence but it wasn't going to be an easy start as we faced tough trips to Huddersfield Town and Watford, who we beat 3-0 in the FA Cup at Vicarage Road last season. We would welcome Derby County, Ipswich Town and Brentford to Hillsborough.


The twenty seventeen twenty eighteen season kicked off with a trip to Huddersfield Town as we played out a two all draw on our return to the Championship. Centre back John Egan got us off to a dream start after only five minutes but Adam Clayton equalised on fourteen minutes, Tom Hopper regained our advantage on fifty-three minutes - David McGoldrick's last minute equaliser denied us a winning start.

We would be forced to come from behind to defeat rivals Bradford City after extra time in the Capital One Cup first round tie at Hillsborough - Dobbie gave the Bantams a forty-seventh minute lead but Danny Ward's equaliser cancelled that out, Raheem Lawrence's sixty-seven minute goal gave Bradford the lead for the second time before Joao Teixeira's goal forced extra time. James Knowles struck the extra time winner to send us to the second round with a ninety-second minute winner.

We returned to league action with a tough home game against Derby and we had to come from two goals down to win three two as two Mason Bennett goals put the visitors in control by the twenty-ninth minute, Joao Teixeira halved the score a minute later. Second half goals from Tom Hopper and Jon Taylor sealed an unlikely Sheffield Wednesday victory at Hillsborough.

Our second away fixture of the season took us to Watford as we recorded an excellent single goal victory as Joao Teixeira struck the only goal on fifty-one minutes at Vicarage Road.

Our final league fixture of the opening month saw us host Ipswich Town as we could only manage a one all draw as Dale Stephens' wonderful goal gave us an eleventh minute lead and despite dominating the Tractor Boys levelled on seventy-one minutes through Josh Magennis.

August came to an end with a second round League Cup tie as we hosted Brentford and defeated them two one at Hillsborough as goals from Jon Taylor and Joao Teixeira sent us though to face Nottingham Forest away in round three, Renny Smith had equalised for Brentford.


It's been a great start to life in the Championship as we currently lie in third place and currently undefeated (two wins and two draws) from our opening four games but we have only scored seven goals and conceded five and that's going to be slightly alarming if we don't start scoring more regularly.

Just caught up this this... Great read so far! Definitely the right move going to Sheffield Wednesday, cruised last season and I can see you going close again this year!

Cheers for the comment Sam, when I applied for the Sheffield Wednesday job I thought it was the correct time to leave Jomo and a bunch of promising young players which I'm disappointed (slightly) I couldn't stay to watch them progress but I wouldn't have got a better job.



We have made a solid start on our return to the Championship, sitting in fourth place with two wins and two draws from our opening four games but we haven't been great defensively, conceding five times. September approached with five league games and a Capital One Cup trip to Nottingham Forest.


As September kicked off we faced a daunting trip to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers but we returned home with a well earned two all draw as Tom Hopper's twentieth minute strike had given us a half time lead. Goals from Sam Vokes and Mark Coleman turned the game around before Danny Ward equalised for ten man Wednesday with six minutes remaining as we lost both Tyler Blackett and summer signing Chardonie Milambo to red cards.

A single goal from Tom Hopper in the sixty-fourth minute gave us a one nil victory over Crystal Palace at Hillsborough.

Our second consecutive home game saw us entertain fellow promoted side Crewe Alexandra as we defeated them three one as goals from Tom Hopper and Stephen McLaughlin had us two goals up at half time before Joel Meadows pulled one back on the hour, however Hopper's second of the night on sixty-eight minutes sealed the points.

We then travelled to Burnley and edged a seven goal thriller despite being second best and falling behind in the twenty-third minute when Steve Zakuani struck but Joao Teixeira and Stephen McLaughlin within the space of two minutes turned the game around before McLaughlin's second had given us a 3-1 away lead. Two late Zakuani goals in the eighty-seventh and eighty-ninth minute looked to have salvaged Burnley a point but Adam Morgan's goal in second half stoppage time sealed the win.

Our run in the Capital One Cup came to an abrupt end in the third round after a three one defeat away to Nottingham Forest as we found ourselves three down inside twenty-two minutes as Alejandro Pozuelo struck twice and Adam Szalai struck a third but we managed to bag a consolation through Tom Hopper just before the hour mark.

And the month came to an end with Leeds United winning at Hillsborough despite us having a two goal lead inside the opening twenty-one minutes when Billy Jones put through his own net and then Tom Hopper scoring a penalty but two Jay Emmanuel-Thomas goals saw the sides go into half time level. Emilio MacEachen gave Leeds a three two lead with nine minutes remaining but Jon Taylor levelled two minutes later, Tony Watt struck the Leeds winner with the game entering stoppage time. Annoying!


Just the one defeat to Leeds at the end of the month has put too much of a dampener on our excellent start to the season as we sit in fifth place with five wins from our opening nine games but I'm still a little disappointed with the amount of goals we've conceded (15) but scored enough (20) to date.

Cracking start to the season

Aaaaand just caught up. Nice work so far man, looking like a very positive start to the championship!

Tom Hopper certainly isn't goal-shy! KIU

Thanks Johno, it's been a surprising start to the season.

When I signed him on a free I didn't think he would have scored as many as he has done keverend, if I was to ever leave for a "bigger" club then I'd love to take him with me.



It's been a steady start to life in the Championship at Hillsborough but it was important we kept the form up as we looked to stay away from a relegation battle and confirm our safety in the league as soon as possible. October on paper would be a tricky month as we faced trips to Sunderland and Birmingham along with home games against Leicester City, league favourites West Ham and Norwich City.


A trip to the Stadium of Light started the month as we faced Sunderland and drew one all as Paul Corry had got us off to a dream start with a third minute goal but Sunderland, who piled on the pressure, got a deserved equaliser and it finished one one.

We would then welcome Leicester to Hillsborough and defeat them two nil thanks to two second half goals. Winger Jon Taylor broke the deadlock five minutes into the second half before former Foxes striker Tom Hopper sealed the points with a second in stoppage time.

Three days later and "daylight robbery" happened as we defeated league favourites West Ham United at Hillsborough 1-0, Tom Hopper's fifty-fifth minute goal separated the two sides with our only shot on target while West Ham, who had nine attempts on target have a right to feel aggrieved at not even picking up a point.

St. Andrews was our second destination as we held Birmingham to a one one draw, we looked set for a disappointing defeat before central defender Craig Cathcart popped up with a last minute equaliser.

And the month would end with a defeat on Halloween night, crashing two one at home to another promotion favourite Norwich City. Tom Hopper scored our only goal four minutes from half time but despite losing we put in a decent performance.


A mixed month indeed for my Sheffield Wednesday side but we remain in the final play-off spot with just over a quarter of the season played to date and we also have a game in hand and that'll be away to Stevenage. Pre season league favourites West Brom are currently in twelfth position.

We headed into the penultimate month of twenty seventeen still in a play-off spot but November would turn out to be a month to forget as we hit some terrible form, losing three of our four games this month but thankfully we didn't plummet down the table.


November started with the Steel City derby as we headed to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United and they defeated us two one as we played dismally. The only cheer we had on a poor afternoon was a fifty-eighth minute Jon Taylor goal.

Four days later we travelled to bottom of the table Stevenage and we picked up a well deserved two one victory as both Simone Cusato and Craig Cathcart struck inside the opening seventeen minutes but we couldn't keep a clean sheet as the home side pulled one back but we held on.

We then welcomed league favourites West Bromwich Albion to Hillsborough and despite putting in our best performance in a long time, we slumped to a three goal home defeat but I couldn't be too disappointed as we were excellent.

And the short month would come to an end at the AMEX Stadium as Brighton won four one as central midfielder Dale Stephens, who looks set to depart the club in the summer as he won't sign a reasonable contract offer, scored our consolation goal after eighty-eight minutes.


A poor month has seen us fall out of the play-off spots but despite those three league defeats we've only slipped down one position which isn't as bad as it seems but we need to return to winning ways and dramatically too next month or all the hard work done in the opening quarter of the season will be for nothing.

On the back of a dismal November that saw us win just the one Championship fixture from four games, the final month of twenty seventeen would turn out to be a short one due to me going to deliver breaking news at the end of the update. Just four games ended up being played and we won half of the games and lost the last two without scoring.


We started the final month of twenty seventeen with a home game against Middlesbrough as we had to come from behind to pick up a well deserved two one victory as the away side had taken the lead but second half goals from Simone Cusato and Tom Hopper sealed a hard fought but deserved victory.

We then travelled to Blackpool three days later and stole a last gasp winner when John Egan found the target with the game entering stoppage time, it was an entertaining game that could have went either way but I'm obviously delighted with maximum points.

Four days later we faced a second away trip as the side visited Bournemouth and slipped to a disappointing single goal defeat.

What turned out to be the final game of my Sheffield Wednesday reign was a home clash with Charlton Athletic who disappointingly defeated us two nil at Hillsborough.

The 2-0 defeat at home to Charlton Athletic proved to be my final game at the helm of Sheffield Wednesday as I moved on to a much bigger club, a club who also used to be in the Premier League, a club who had recently sacked their manager, a club who are favourites to win the Championship title this season although it's going to be difficult and a club who would be offering me a much larger transfer kitty.

Who is it?


They recently sacked their manager and I couldn't not only declare interest in the job but also apply for it as they're a much bigger club than Sheffield Wednesday and have spent a substantial amount this summer in an attempt to get promoted. I'm not viewed as a favourite so I haven't resigned from the post at Sheffield Wednesday.

I didn't realise I had come in for criticism due to my "reluctance" to sign more English players, most came from Northern Ireland but the ones that did come from sunny Ulster were excellent signings, especially James Knowles who I'd love to take to West Bromwich Albion with me but don't think he'd be good enough for them.


So more than likely I will leave Sheffield Wednesday lying eighth in the Championship table and one point behind the Baggies who came from behind to defeat Leeds United while we lost at home to Charlton.

Jumping from a sinking ship? Haha.

Haha not at all Sean, it's more I'm moving to a bigger club.



Despite doing well in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday following our promotion from League 1 last season but when a job at a bigger club came available I felt it was time to move on if I wanted to make a quick step to the elite of English football. You can see from my last update that I declared interest and applied for the vacant West Bromwich Albion post.


So following my interest in the vacant West Brom post they have admitted that they're flattered by my interest in taking on the job but admitted that the chances of the deal being finalised were unlikely, probably due to the compensation they would need to pay while in the other news, the Sheffield Wednesday board are hoping I choose to remain at Hillsborough.


After I headed for an interview at the Hawthorns with the clubs chairman I had to wait to see if I had put in a lasting impression so I could possibly be offered the job and much to my delight, I have.

I've been offered a transfer budget of a sensational eleven million while I've promised that I will play direct, attacking football and I've also promised that I'll try and sign young players for the first team, something I am confident that I can achieve but one thing I've noticed is that signings will need to be made as they've only got three central defenders on the books.


And the final piece of news is that I've confirmed my departure from Sheffield Wednesday as I've moved to West Bromwich Albion, signing a two year contract in the process and the Baggies have paid Wednesday £1.1 million in compensation for my services.

Thought I'd pop by and see how you've got on lately.! Fantastic work with Wednesday mate, great promotion shame you've left now though, would of been nice to see you take them back to the top tier!

However good luck at ALbion! Will be a good journey!

Fantastic move I must say! I hope to see you in the Premier League ASAP!