Exclusive: Henrik Pedersen Snubbed European Offers to Lead Sheffield Wednesday

Henrik Pedersen turned his back on opportunities to manage at least two other clubs, including competing at European level, in order to fulfil his ambition of leading Sheffield Wednesday, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

We can reveal the Dane, who wants to remain in charge of the Owls once their ownership situation is resolved, was approached by Malmo before agreeing to succeed his former boss Danny Rohl. 

Pedersen was also on a shortlist of names being considered by Plymouth Argyle before Tom Cleverley’s appointment over the summer. 

Although he is thought to have held exploratory talks with the Pilgrims after receiving their offer, the 48-year-old’s desire to remain at Hillsborough prompted them to pursue the former Manchester United midfielder instead.

Despite enduring a miserable season at Wednesday, where they are destined for relegation after being hit with a series of points deductions following the collapse of Dejphon Chansiri’s regime, Pedersen has retained the respect of the embattled Championship team’s squad for his efforts behind the scenes. 

DISPOSAL

Although the options at his disposal were widely accepted to be not fit for purpose in England’s second tier, even before more key names were sold during last month’s transfer window, he has worked hard to try and preserve morale behind the scenes with arguments about The Owls’ tactical approach rendered irrelevant by the paucity of experience in the dressing room.

Under contract until 2028, it is thought James Bord’s consortium, who have been granted preferred bidder status by administrators tasked with running Wednesday until a takeover is completed, are considering replacing Pedersen with either Steve McClaren or Neil Lennon if their purchase is ratified by both the English Football League and the game’s newly appointed independent regulator.

But Pedersen remains hopeful the loyalty he demonstrated by agreeing to oversee The Owls’ summer training camp when Rohl initially refused to report back for duty following the collapse of his relationship with Chansiri is repaid by the professional poker player and his associates.

One of those bidding to seize control of Wednesday before Bord received the greenlight to pursue his proposed purchase is understood to have already given Pedersen their word that he will be given a chance to prove his worth with a competitive group of players if they eventually receive the nod.