Make no mistake, today’s news that Danny Rohl intends to return to Sheffield Wednesday is a big positive for the club.
This is the manager who led the great escape in 2024 and then a highly respectable follow-up last season in a difficult environment.
This is the boss who did so much to help develop players. For example, many are bemoaning the expected loss of Djeidi Gassama to Rangers. Under Rohl, the talented winger elevated his stock to the point the German once compared him to Crystal Palace forward Romain Esse. And he isn’t the only example.
BBC Radio Sheffield reported on Saturday that Wednesday and Chansiri are directing potential buyers to a professional team with a proven track record of selling clubs, with the aim of completing a takeover — potentially within weeks.
Non-disclosure agreements are being signed and proper process is taking place. There is increasing hope a deal will get done.
This will have played a part in Rohl’s decision to return.
Although he ended last season making it clear he intended to take on a new challenge, I believe this was indicative of an increasingly difficult situation at Hillsborough and wasn’t a reflection on the club itself, the players or the supporters.
Rohl originally signalled his intentions to the club in April, shortly after wages for players and staff were not paid on time for March.
The situation has since spiralled dramatically. The club is currently under three separate EFL transfer embargoes, a three-transfer window ban for paying fees and other key players aside from Gassama will potentially depart to raise funds.
Some players have reportedly handed their notice in, after not being paid on time in consecutive months.
There are still non-footballing staff who haven’t been paid their full wages for June, having endured the same issue in May.
The players began pre-season unable to use the training ground fully, with ongoing work to the facilities incomplete. No public pre-season friendlies have been announced and there are concerns, raised yesterday by MP Clive Betts, about whether the North Stand will receive a safety certificate for the new season.