Experience of Heffernan could be ideal for Sheffield Wednesday

Striker Heffernan may be stepping down a division after leaving Doncaster Rovers but the 28-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues.

That, according to Owls manager Alan Irvine, is going be a major help for the Owls – returning to the third tier of English football for only the second time in 30 years – when they visit places such as Exeter, Dagenham, and Rochdale.

"It's important that we have people who are not going to be surprised by certain grounds they go to next season," said Irvine. "The last thing I want is to have a team of players who feel 'I am too good to play at this particular venue.'

"We need players who have experienced it before because that is a very important thing in terms of preparing for games. We don't want players feeling 'they shouldnt be there' or that they are going to win games 'easily'."

Heffernan, who played on loan for both Oldham Athletic and Bristol Rovers in League One last season, is the third new player to join the Owls in less than 48 hours after winger Chris Sedgwick and defender Jon Otsemobor put pen-to-paper on Tuesday.

He has scored over 100 senior goals in the last 10 years and has spent the last five seasons with neighbours Doncaster.

Although he was released this summer, Rovers manager Sean O'Driscoll still gave the striker a glowing reference and helped convince Irvine that he could do a job for the Owls.

Irvine said: "The moment I spoke to Sean O'Driscoll, he said 'Paul will score goals in this division' which was a good start. Those who know him speak very highly of him in terms of his character.

"If we are to get a team that will compete at the top of the division we will need proven goalscorers," he added. "Paul's record is excellent and goalscorers tend to be fairly consistent."

Heffernan turned down offers from five other clubs, including Bristol Rovers, to sign a two-year contract with the Owls.

"This is a club that shouldn't be in this league and, hopefully, I can get them out of it," he said. "It is a lot bigger club than a lot of others in League One but that doesn't automatically mean you are going to do well. It took Leeds United long enough to get out of the division."

Heffernan says he will always look back with fondness on his time at Rovers which included a promotion from League One two years ago and a goal at the Millennium Stadium in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

"The difference between the club when I signed and how it is now is like night and day," he said.

"I have great memories but last season was very frustrating. I was on the bench for long periods and, eventually, I had to get out on loan.

"I sat down at the end of the season and had a good chat with the manager and we both decided that the best thing for my career was to move on and look for new challenges."