'It’s intoxicating' - Sheffield Wednesday CEO David Bruce explains reason for communication strategy
Sheffield Wednesday CEO David Bruce had discussed the club’s desire for transparency
Sheffield Wednesday have been transparent since the beginning of their new era “because the journey is the most exciting part”, according to CEO David Bruce.
Arise Capital Partners took control of the bruised Owls this year, inheriting a club in a state of disrepair.
Work to put the club back on a more stable footing started straight away and a semblance of normality is slowly but surely returning to Hillsborough.
The League One club have been incredibly transparent about behind-the-scenes work as part of a deliberate communication strategy to ensure supporters are on board for the journey.
Sheffield Wednesday’s communication strategy
Bruce told The i: “Let’s communicate and let’s communicate frequently. We’re still not where we need to be with certain things on matchday. So we articulate that in the matchday guide. We want to be very open and honest about that.
“I think a lot of clubs will understandably wait until they are almost at the mid-point of the journey. Well, we want to tell you about the journey now, because the journey is the most exciting part when you’ve experienced what these people have.
“It’s intoxicating; it might be a little bit messy at times, but that’s okay because we’re together.”
Sheffield Wednesday investment
Henrik Pedersen’s squad has been invested in despite financial restrictions in place, yet there has also been a lot of work done away from the grass.
Bruce said: “We came in and thought we’d spend £5m, largely on safety, foundational stuff to make the stadium be a place you want to come to.
“Flushing the toilets and not getting water coming through the roof. The ability to serve pies and pints in a decent way. But the more you uncovered, the more you saw something you actually wanted to work on too.
“Normally you would get things signed off in the budget at Christmas time, then finalise and start the work when you get to summer.
“We didn’t start thinking about this stuff until two weeks after the owner owned the club. There’s obviously still bits and pieces getting done. But to get all of that done before the start of the season… I can’t believe how much the team achieved.”