Warnock helps to convince Morrison on Wednesday move

Former Republic of Ireland striker Morrison, 31, snubbed interest from clubs in the Championship to join the Owls yesterday following his release by Coventry City.

After putting pen to paper on a two-year deal, Morrison also revealed that he was advised to join the Owls by his former Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock – also a former manager of Wednesday's arch-rivals Sheffield United.

"At this stage of my career, I still wanted to play for a big club," he said. "I did my homework and people like Neil Warnock have told me that this would be a good move for me.

"I know I am still good enough for the Championship but I don't view it as dropping to a League One club. Sheffield Wednesday should not have gone down last season. That's a fact with the players they had.

"Now, with the players that have come in, they should win the league this season. We will be getting more fans in League One than some teams in the Championship. This club is so big and that is why I was willing to drop down a division."

Morrison commanded a fee of 4.25m eight years ago when moving from Palace to Birmingham City and returned to Selhurst Park for 2m three years later.

He was released by Palace manager Warnock in the summer of 2008 and joined Coventry City where he scored 23 goals during a two-year stay.

Morrison wanted to stay with the Sky Blues but knew the writing was on the wall once manager Chris Coleman was sacked and replaced by Aidy Bothroyd.

"The chairman (Ray Ranson) had wanted me to stay but on reduced terms. I was a free agent so I said 'let's wait and see'" he reflected. "When Chris Coleman got sacked it made my mind up.

"I had a lot of time for Chris, he was a good manager, but Aidy Bothroyd likes to play a different style and I don't think it would suit me and I don't think we would have suited each other.

"If I'm being honest, that's the reason why it didn't work out there," he added. "The chairman always has to back the manager so that's fair enough."

Owls manager Alan Irvine is delighted to have landed Morrison in addition to two other new strikers Neil Mellor and Paul Heffernan. He has now achieved his summer target of eight new signings but remains interested in former Preston North End defender Youl Mawene.

Asked whether Morrison's arrival signalled the imminent departure of striker Marcus Tudgay who has been linked with a move to Burnley, Irvine said: "The budget I was given to bring in players was not conditional on players going out but, like any other club, if anyone comes in with big offers for any players, they have to be considered. That has not happened so far and I hope it does not."

Commenting on the availability of French defender Mawene, Irvine said: "I am aware of Youl's situation and I am continually looking at ways to improve the squad. I know him well and I have got his phone number if I need to speak to him.

"I am aware of his situation through his agent and I am aware that he has been made offers but has not signed for anyone yet – but I will have to find out if I have the capacity to bring in anymore players."

Irvine believes Morrison will be a valuable asset to the Owls this season and was impressed by his willingness to take a pay cut to move to Hillsborough.

"Obviously, the big talking point with his agent was how to structure a deal that would be suitable," said Irvine. "He has obviously been on more money than he is on now.

"Our wages are less than we have been paying in the past but I don't think this was all down to money. It was more about it being the right place for him to come and then the money."