Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic: Catching up with the Joneses could be important

Saturday’s main job will be to lead the Owls to a first home win this season because if it does not come against the Addicks, there will only be one more chance, versus West Bromwich Albion on May 2.

Victory would also bring three of the four points still needed to avoid ending the season on minus points. No English league club has failed to achieve both those modest targets.

But at full-time he would be well advised to make a beeline for opposition manager Nathan Jones.

Few have walked a mile in Pedersen's shoes, but Jones knows better than most the task of rebuilding a fallen football club. It is a task Pedersen says he is looking forward to "attacking", and talks with prospective new owner David Storch point to him getting the chance.

Luton Town had hit their nadir before Jones became manager in 2016, the former First Division side having stepped out of non-league football, but were still a mid-table League Two side.

The Welshman changed that. After overhauling the squad in his first summer, he reached the play-offs in his maiden full season, won promotion in his second and League One in his third.

By the time he left for Southampton in 2022, having not been gone too long during a fling with Stoke City before that, the Hatters were in Premier League shape.

No wonder Pedersen, currently trying to learn as much as he can about League One ready for the Owls' return next season, is keen to pick his brain.

"I have big respect for what he has done and what he is doing," says Pedersen of Jones. "And of course, I'll have one or two questions in this direction when I meet him."

Charlton have also had to rebuild since falling from Premier League to League One. Jones led them to victory in last season's third tier play-off final.

Pedersen has "A big respect for them and how they have handled this season in the Championship. It's a very strong, defensive, organised team.

"Not many teams have a good build-up against them. They are very difficult to play against with the man-orientated and very aggressive pressing. They are very strong in direct play and set-pieces.

"It's going to be a physical, tough game and we're all looking forward (to it)."

Saturday, though, is a sub-plot in the story of what will hopefully be Wednesday's revival after the decline under Dejphon Chansiri, just the most horrific chapter of a quarter of a century-long fall from grace.

Pedersen's task will be harder still with confirmation Storch has been unable to persuade the Football League to back down on a 15-point deduction next season for failing to pay non-football creditors the 25p in the pound they are due under its rules.

It will not change his mindset or enthusiasm for the rebuild.

"It's sad to get minus 15 points because as a manager I'd rather have zero than minus 15," he says.

"But we will attack this league, it doesn't matter what, in the best possible way."

And being in at the start of something is exciting too.

"Nobody can do it alone," he says of the task of putting a historic club back on its feet," he stresses.

"First of all, we need top ownership. With David, Michael (Storch), Tom (Costin, the leading figures of the Arise consortium), we will have strong ownership.

"Then when the ownership and a CEO will be there (very recently-departed Sunderland chief business officer David Bruce is widely expected to fill the role if and when Storch's takeover is approved) we will have a strong organisation. Then we will make a good plan for the future.

"We have a clear idea for Sheffield Wednesday's future.

"I love the football part, but I also love to rebuild and to put the right structure (in place). It's what I did when I was head of global youth development in Red Bull.

"I also think this part is a very interesting part – how we can make the right structure, how we can make the right organisation, how we can make the right processes?

"But we will start this the new owner is there and a new CEO and then we can do it together. Nobody can do something alone here."

When it comes to the jobs still to be done this season, it remains to be seen if Svante Ingelsson plays any further part.

The midfielder has started 39 of Wednesday's 42 Championship games this season and come off the bench in another, but has a meniscus injury.

"We're waiting for the last (information) if he needs a surgery or not in the season or shortly after the season," explains Pedersen.

"We will see on Saturday how it is and then we will make the next step in the coming days."

Defender Dominic Iorfa is back after paternity leave.