Sheffield Wednesday's potential made Dave Challinor change Championship goal

Challinor has been out of work since he left Edgley Park following defeat to Bolton Wanderers in May’s League One play-off final.

He has turned down other jobs since, but has returned to football as the new manager of the Owls.

The 51-year-old, who has worked at every level from the eighth to third tier and has won promotions with all four clubs he has worked for, says Wednesday was a perfect opportunity to return to.

“My natural progression would have been to try and get a Championship opportunity,” he admitted.

“That made the number of clubs I am appealing to was probably pretty small. The next opportunity either needed to give me that chance, or be one I could grow with.

“I certainly couldn't have picked a bigger one in terms of this club and the amount of growth it's got in it.

“I won't say this isn't a League One club – on the football pitch it is – and it's our job to try and push it forward but everyone around football is saying off the field this is a Championship club.

“It's to do with history, fanbase, the size of the stadium and all those things. We have to make it a huge advantage for us.

“But on the pitch, that's where we are. We have to understand that and put things in place that allow us to move forward and be that club in the long term.”

Challinor's predecessor Henrik Pedrsen was sacked in no small part because his football did not excite supporters, and Challinor says tapping into them is essential.

“It's the one factor where we can definitely say we have an advantage,” he said. “There's more supporters been coming in here than any other ground in League One and most of the Championship.”

Challinor's former Tranmere Rovers team-mate Clint Hill joins alongside Antony Sweeney as assistants, with further coaching appointments and redefined roles for existing coaches promised.