Former boss Chris Turner backs Sheffield Wednesday to make Premier League return this year

It is 25 years ago since the Sheffield-born goalkeeper was part of Ron Atkinson’s squad which went straight back up after spending 12 months in the old Second Division.

The last 16 years have seen the Owls fall from grace, with Turner even returning as manager from 2002-04 to try and revive their fortunes in League One.

But now with the financial support of new owner Dejphon Chansiri, head coach Carlos Carvalhal has assembled a squad who are fighting for a play-off spot in the Championship.

And Turner – now chief executive at Chesterfield – backs his boyhood team to return to the top-flight once more.

After a recent five-match winless run, including three draws, the Owls bounced back with an impressive 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

They followed that up with another 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic and now occupy the final play-off spot on 62 points, three clear of seventh-place with a far better goal difference and eight games of the season remaining.

“I saw them recently against Brentford, when they won 4-0,” said Turner, who played over 160 games for Wednesday in two spells with the club. “I believe they can win the play-offs, I really do.

“Their recent draws have hampered them a little bit, after they went on a great run, and they were pegged back a little bit.

“Fernando Forestieri is a massive player for them and they have to keep him in the team. Obviously, they missed him after his two red cards. But they play good football and have a great chance in the play-offs.”

Following Wednesday’s promotion in 1991 – which also brought a League Cup final triumph – manager Atkinson controversially walked out of the club, lured by a chance to manage his own boyhood club, Aston Villa.

Trevor Francis became player-manager and the Owls enjoyed their first season back in the top flight, coming third behind champions Manchester United and Leeds United.

Turner has fond memories of his playing days at Hillsborough, having returned to S6 in 1988 after successful spells with Sunderland and Manchester United.

“What Big Ron left was a squad of players, which Trevor took over, and brought in a couple of players each season to make us stronger,” said Turner.

“From 1991 to 1994 Sheffield Wednesday were a very strong outfit in the early days of the Premier League.

“It was all built on Ron coming to Hillsborough and building the team that won the League Cup final in 1991.”

Turner, like most Owls managers since relegation from the Premier League in 2000, can only look on with a tinge of envy at the financial clout of Wednesday this season.

For over a decade the Owls have been forced to shop for players in the bargain basement, but are now splashing out on transfer fees for the likes of Gary Hooper and Forestieri. It’s all a far cry from Turner’s day under then chairman Dave Allen.

“The coach is the first coach to have any money, for as long as I can remember,” added the 57-year-old. “All the managers, myself included, had to beg, steal and borrow players on loan.

“Chansiri has given the club the best chance they have ever had – and probably will have ever – of getting back to the Premier League.”