Sheffield Wednesday v Dagenham & Redbridge: Dad helps Mellor to drop down divisions for Owls

Five years ago, Mellor was playing in the UEFA Champions League for Liverpool but is dropping down to the third tier of English football for the first time in his career.

Mellor, now 27, has answered an SOS call from his former manager Alan Irvine – who needs to lead the Owls back to the Championship following the shock of last season's relegation.

"I know absolutely nothing about League One!" Mellor said ahead of today's opening game of the season against Dagenham and Redbridge at Hillsborough.

"I have never played at this level before and its not a level I have wanted to play at. Only the size of the club and the manager first attracted me here."

Mellor was also drawn to Hillsborough by 'family ties' as his father Ian played for the club in the Seventies and the Mellors lived in Sheffield until he secured a move to Manchester City.

"When I was a kid, my first kit was Sheffield Wednesday's although I grew up supporting City," Mellor reflected. "They were the two biggest clubs my Dad played for and I had always wanted to follow in his footsteps."

Mellor junior has spent the last four years at Championship side Preston North End but was allowed to join the Owls on a one-year loan deal by manager Darren Ferguson.

"My Dad did tell me to come here this summer," he revealed. "He knew it was a step down but, in terms of the size of the club, it was almost a step up. He was quite persuasive.

"It will be a proud day for all the family on Saturday.

"Dad will be here along with my little girl and my little lad who have both got Wednesday kits.

"I am just disappointed that my brother Simon won't be here because he is the biggest Wednesday fan in the family. Unfortunately, he's working in America and is going to miss the first three games. He is devastated."

Mellor will not be alone in getting his first taste of League One this afternoon. The Daggers have never played at this level before and only have been in existence for 18 years.

Victory over Rotherham United in last season's League Two play-off final at Wembley has secured the Essex-based club a place alongside former Premier League teams such as the Owls, Southampton, and Charlton Athletic.

"This will be Dagenham's Cup final," said Mellor.

"And while no-one else is giving them a chance, we certainly know that it is going to be a tough game."

It may have been a turbulent summer at Hillsborough – which has witnessed the departure of chairman Lee Strafford and the serving of a winding up petition by HM Customs and Revenue – but there is still plenty of optimism.

Manager Irvine has invested in nine new players, the majority with pedigrees from a higher level, and over 12,000 supporters have bought season tickets.

Mellor also insists that the team have remained undistracted by the events off the field.

"None of the players are interested in that," he said. "We were told that the club would not be going into administration which was the only worry you have as a player.

"Since we were told that, we have just got on with things."

One of Wednesday's biggest rivals in this season's promotion is likely to be Southampton who finished seventh last time around despite a 10-point penalty for going into administration.

Mellor said: "There is no chance of that happening here, we are from a level pegging straight away and dont have to play catch up.

"If we get off to a good start, we can stay up there for the season."

Although the Owls still have to face a winding up petition served by HMRC in the High Court next Wednesday, they have now reached an agreement over a payment schedule going forward on Thursday and the Football League lifted its transfer embargo.

Despite reports elsewhere, there had been no new offer of investment in the club last night by American firm Club 9 Sports.