Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen makes 'big future' claim after loss to Derby County
Henrik Pedersen believes Sheffield Wednesday have a “big future” despite off-field uncertainty due to their fanbase.
The club have been in administration since October and have not yet found an owner to take over from Dejphon Chansiri.
Turbulence away from the pitch has had ramifications on it and Wednesday’s relegation to League One has already been confirmed.
Despite the absence of jeopardy, the Owls were strongly backed by travelling fans during their 2-1 defeat to Derby County.
Post-match, Pedersen saluted their commitment amid such chaos.
Henrik Pedersen salutes supporters
He said: “It was amazing. Today from the first moment they were singing and to the end of the game. That’s why we have a big, big future for this football club.
“How they support the boys and how they create an environment for the boys in this insecure situation to still feel safe and feel motivated to do all that they can. I have never seen this before in my life, what they did for us today was amazing.
“Before we have a new owner, what we have right now is our fans and this is why our club is still a big club, otherwise we would be a small club. We don’t have much but with our fans we have everything and we have big potential.
“This shows what Sheffield Wednesday is, that the human comes first and with the heart we have to play and with the heart we have to show what we are and they have been unbelievable when it was most difficult and to stay with us and support us.”
Henrik Pedersen proud of players
Wednesday went behind after 11 minutes at Pride Park, when former Sheffield United forward Ben Brereton Diaz opened the scoring.
The opener was cancelled out by Owls loanee Jerry Yates, but Matt Clarke headed home a winner for the Rams.
Pedersen said: “On the other side, I am so proud of my players, they did everything that they can again today and I thought we competed really really well in a very difficult away game.”