Megson hoping to change attitudes at Owls after summer of discontent

Only two new faces have arrived at Hillsborough so far this summer – Scunthorpe United defender Rob Jones and former Leeds United midfielder David Prutton – but there have been seven departures and others are still in the pipeline.

Megson fears the Owls will struggle to justify joint favouritism in next season’s League One promotion race unless both situations change quickly.

He currently has only 19 senior professionals at his disposal – including three goalkeepers – and is openly frustrated by the lack of new arrivals ahead of a seven-day training camp in Austria which starts today.

However, his concerns about the attitude of his players will be even more alarming to Owls supporters who are pinning faith in their side to get out of League One this season. And while chairman Milan Mandaric will support Megson in the transfer market, he is unlikely to tolerate failure.

Speaking yesterday afternoon, Megson said: “I have just had an hour’s meeting with Milan recognising that there is now some urgency to get some players in. I hoped we would have the players in by now and they would be forced to be together for a week. I think that would have been a big plus but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”

Nottingham Forest left-back Julian Bennett is expected to sign today and the Owls are also working on deals for Charlton Athletic midfielder Jose Semedo and Leicester City winger Lloyd Dyer. Megson is also in the hunt for Preston North End striker Neil Mellor and Wolves defender Danny Batth – who both impressed on loan last season.

“We knew there needed to be change,” said Megson. “I was told that the club wanted to work within a certain wage bill this season – but we were already at that level so we had to make changes to free up funds to bring in the players that we need.

“That first part has gone through and Paul Aldridge (the club’s chief executive) has done a good job. Now we need it the other way around and everyone is aware that we need to bring in players to enable us to get where we want to be. My aim is to get this club up quickly – but that will be tempered by the squad and the players we have got.”

Defender Bennett, 26, is available on a free transfer from Forest while Semedo, 24, is a free agent after rejecting a new deal with Charlton. Winger Dyer, 28, has worked previously under Megson at West Bromwich Albion but still has three years on his contract at Leicester.

Megson ruled out moves for Ipswich Town striker Jason Scotland or former Coventry City winger Michael McIndoe but admitted making enquiries for Wigan Athletic midfielder Jason Koumas. Megson, however, is not optimistic and says the Welsh international will only join the Owls if he cannot secure a deal to a club in a higher division.

Defenders Michael Morrison and Mark Reynolds are likely to be the next departures – only six months after joining the club. Morrison is wanted by Charlton Athletic and Reynolds has been linked with a return to his former club Motherwell.

Both players were signed by former manager Alan Irvine during a January spending spree backed by Mandaric yet failed to impress and were axed shortly after Megson’s appointment.

“I think this club spent £1.3m in January and increased the wage bill by about 25 per cent,” observed Megson. “It didn’t work and we went from fourth in the table to 15th. That now is something we have to try and cope with. You can’t spend it twice unless you are fortunate and we are not in that position.”

After just a few days of pre-season training, Megson is voicing criticism of dressing room attitudes. He also expressed disappointment that one un-named player had returned overweight.

“There are a few things at this football club that need to change,” he said. “We are doing runs to try and get the basic fitness first but what alarms me is that three outfield players, not goalkeepers, are at the back. Standards at this place have got to move upwards very quickly. Pre-season is enjoyable but it is also hard work. People should not be moaning and groaning about the work they have to do. They are well paid, they are out in the sun, and they are getting taken across to Austria. It’s a good life.

“We have five-and-a-half weeks in pre-season and you get the basic fitness in first,” he explained. “There are a lot of things that are seen as ‘old fashioned’ but it’s not a bootcamp and the reason clubs have been doing things so long is that they work. Once pre-season finishes, the fitness work will not stop. They have already been told that they will run once a week. Again, some clubs don’t do that – but I firmly believe in it.

“The idea is that we get to the first game as well organised and in the best condition we can.

“But I hear some things about running. For example, a centre-half should not have to run too far because he doesn’t in a game.

“But, if that is the case, why does a boxer run five miles every morning when they only fight for three-minute rounds? There are two things the opposition can’t stop you doing. One is running, the other is talking. You have to get as good as you can at those two. Attitudes need to change to what this football club is and what it could be,” Megson stressed. “Players’ attitudes need to change about what is and isn’t acceptable. Everybody’s attitude needs to change – apart from those of the supporters.”

According to bookmakers SkyBet, the Owls are joint favourites with Huddersfield Town to win promotion this season. Megson, however, says his current set of players cannot justify that billing.

“It doesn’t matter if people make us favourites. You have got to have a good squad and a good team,” he said. “To be perfectly honest, if we are second favourites, people are only basing that on the ground we have got and the crowd. The squad we have got at the moment is not a second favourite squad at all. Hopefully, it will be – but it is not at the moment. And it doesn’t intensify the pressure because I don’t think the pressure could be any more intense,” he added.