Sheffield Wednesday dismiss Henrik Pedersen after less than 15 months

Sheffield Wednesday have sacked head coach Henrik Pedersen on 25 October 2026 after less than 15 months in charge, the club announced following two defeats in five days. Pedersen's last game was a 2-0 loss at Doncaster Rovers in a South Yorkshire derby when supporters called for him to go after Wednesday conceded twice inside the opening 17 minutes.

Pedersen had been an EFL League One Manager of the Month nominee in August after Wednesday took six points from their first nine league matches, and won four of his first five league games this season, including a 7-2 victory over Bromley. He had been Danny Rohl's assistant and signed a two-year contract to succeed Rohl after the German left by mutual consent 12 days before the start of last season. Pedersen's first campaign ended with the earliest relegation in EFL history amid a season of fan boycotts, protests, administration and an 18-point penalty; the club's takeover by US consortium Arise Capital Partners in May ended Dejphon Chansiri's reign.

Results dipped through October as Pedersen's side suffered a 2-0 defeat at Notts County on Tuesday and managed only one win in six league matches, failing to score in four of those games. The Owls are currently eighth in the table and sit two points outside the play-off places.

Matt Hamshaw has been placed in interim charge; he joined Wednesday as a coach in August after being sacked by Rotherham United last season. In a club statement, Wednesday said Pedersen had provided "stability and leadership" during an "exceptional period in the club's history".

Sporting director Simon Wilson said the club had expected the start of the season to be "difficult" but to offer "a recognisable style of play and greater consistency in our performances". "Although we have accumulated points, we haven't seen enough progress in those areas," added , externalWilson. "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."

After the Doncaster defeat Pedersen acknowledged the fans' reaction and spoke to BBC Radio Sheffield: "I'm hurting like they are hurt," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield. "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." Local commentator Rob Stanton wrote that "The writing was on the wall once the fans turned at Notts County and Doncaster Rovers. Repeated chants of 'We want Henrik out' rang around the stadium."

Stanton also criticised the tactics used at Doncaster, describing a switch to a 3-5-2 that was quickly abandoned. He singled out Kieran Morrison, writing: "Kieran Morrison is clearly a talented attacking winger. That's why he's on the books with Liverpool. Yet nobody who's watched him would say he's strong defensively at this stage in his career. Yet here he was being asked to play as a left wing back, a totally unnatural fit." Stanton added that Wednesday were "limp and lifeless in the first half" and listed similar poor starts against Doncaster, Notts County, Huddersfield and Stockport.

Stanton referenced Wednesday's EFL Trophy tie with Salford to illustrate the wider issues, noting: "Yes, Wednesday made some changes. Salford made eleven. And the Owls didn't lay a glove on them in the first 45 minutes." He questioned the team's inconsistency despite having the players to create chances in later stages of matches.

Hamshaw will be in charge for Tuesday's visit of sixth-placed Cambridge United, the club confirmed.