Sheffield Wednesday latest: Takeover, trialists and Pierce Charles heroics

Join Joe Crann for all the latest news coming out of Sheffield Wednesday after another busy week for the Owls. David Storch was in town meeting some Wednesdayites of note, there's a new trialist on board and Pierce Charles put on a masterclass against Leicester City.

We'll be discussing all that, as well as Joel Ndala, Wednesday Ladies and much, much more.

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to another edition of The Wednesday. It's me, Joe Cran, here to talk about everything Sheffield Wednesday for the last week. First up, uh another thank you to everybody that subscribed to the Wednesday Word.com. It's been unbelievable, uh genuin blown away by the whole thing. Over 2,000 people in our little universe now. Uh people joined up on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook as well as well along the way. So yeah, before we get started into the nitty-gritty of everything, thank you so much for that. It really does uh really does mean the world. It's this is my little baby, as I've said before. So to have everybody get on board with it uh as as much as they have is just been phenomenal. Uh but yeah, there has been some uh some things happening at Sheffield Wednesday. We've had two games over the Easter weekend. Um we've had David Storch in town. It's been it's been busy. And yeah, let's get into that. We'll talk about some of the things that are happening at Sheffield Wednesday over the last week. So yeah, first up, David Storch. You look at what he's uh what he's been saying, what he's been doing since he was he was made preferred bidder of Sheffield Wednesday, and you know, he's he's ri he's really doing the right things. I think you know the things that he's been saying about Sheffield Wednesday have been impressive, but also the things he's been doing, um, you know, getting into the city, really getting to the heart of the city, meeting the right people. I know that he's been sort of in talks and in discussions with some people in the the sort of Wednesday community about ways that they can suppose work together going forward. But you know, he was uh he was in town recently, the day of the Stoke City game, um, was watching it in in a pub in Sheffield, you know, the brew mill tav, which I'm sure many of you have uh enjoyed a part in over the years. I know I have. But yeah, he was in there with with people like Richard Hawley, a couple of the Arctic monkeys, the guys from Melbourne, you know, he spent time with with local politicians getting a lay of the land there. And yeah, he just seems to be ticking a lot of boxes for what Sheffield Wednesday fans want to hear. I know there's a lot of work uh being done to sort of get ahead of things in terms of Hillsborough, in terms of the football team, the megastore, all these things that they want to change once they once they get in the door, if they get in the door. Um, yeah, like we've said before, we're we're not in a position yet where Sheffield Wednesday are um definitely going to be sold to to a rise uh and and David Storch's consortium. But I think there is a lot of positivity around the place now, and uh he's he's met with with staff. They you know I saw um the really good report from from Alex Miller and George Smith on the star. So I think they described it as a breath of fresh air compared to time under De Ponchan Series. So, yeah, that's all very, very positive. Uh, we're still playing a waiting game, there's definitely nothing done yet, but there is hope that uh, as we've said before, there is a new light at the end of the tunnel for Sheffield Wednesday. And you know, I've heard nothing different uh of their hopes to try and get something wrapped up um in time for the end of the season. If that was to be possible, that would be brilliant. But like I said, we're just playing a waiting game, and fingers crossed, there is something to report on that a little bit further into the week. Um, a few more uh positives, a few more steps forward. I know it's what every Sheffield Wednesday fan wants to hear at this point, but yeah, keep it locked on the Wednesday word and we'll try and give you everything that we can. So, yeah, the football. Uh Stoke City, that game was unfortunately like many, many games we've seen from Sheffield Wednesday this season. There was points where they held their own, there was points where they, you know, made a fist of things, but ultimately they just didn't have enough. Uh, I don't think it's a game that will uh will live long in the memory of either set of supporters. Wednesday were just what Wednesday have been. I think the big takeaway from that game was was the fans. It was another one of those occasions where Wednesday Arts just blew everybody away. You know, the the support that that this team has has had from the fans this year has been otherworldly. I think there's a lot of people wondering what on earth is going through the heads of Wednesday Arts at the moment, given the noise they're making, the numbers they're travelling in, and it's just one of those that makes you so incredibly proud to be a Sheffield Wednesday fan. You know, listening to Honolulu Wednesday, the you know, Wednesday are massive, all the songs that have been going around that have you know earworm their way into people's heads. It's just it's just been brilliant. And you know, like I say, uh if this is what this football club is like now, you just have to wonder what it will be like with a new dawn, with a new um revised uh I suppose thought process in terms of what can be achieved. Because right now everyone knows where we're at as a as a football club, everyone knows that this season is a write-off. We're just looking forward. We're just looking forward to the the next step, and hopefully that does come very soon because yeah, this season on the pitch has been a bit of a nightmare, and and that Stoke City game was, I suppose, just a another example of that. You know, Wednesday are uh like I say, they're scrapping, the the players are battling, they're giving everything. Just unfortunately, everything is is often not enough. And yeah, there was another game of football as well on Monday, Easter Monday, Sheffield Wednesday against Leicester. That was uh there was slightly more to talk about from a positive perspective in that game. Look, the wet the way Wednesday played uh the first half was was was really good. I think you know they had a brilliant start with with Jerry H'Prenned home, and he's really endeared himself to Sheffield Wednesday supporters. I think the the way that he's bought into this football club and and the way that he's sort of hunkered down for the for the scrap and just battles for everything. He he really seems to fit. You know, we we often talk about lone players and and new players coming in and just getting the football club immediately, and it it does feel like Jerry Yates is is one of those. He's a player that has done a really good job of becoming um just the the sort of I suppose the the spearhead, the figurehead of that Wednesday attack. And he he scored some some good goals from a striker's perspective as well. You know, they've they've not been particularly pretty, but he's often in the right place at the right time. It does feel like that's something that that Wednesday have lacked far too often this season. Having somebody to get on the end of things, Wednesday don't create that much. You know, we've we've seen that all season. So to have somebody who is in the right place at the right time, able to get on the end of those and find the back of the net has been a yeah, it's been a real bonus. Obviously, the the big talking point for that game is not that end of the pitch, though. Um, as I said earlier, Wednesday were good in the first half for large periods, but they were always going to come under a bit of fire. Um, and there was one man that stopped stopped that game from resulting in a what could have been a I suppose a pretty heavy defeat. Pierce Charles, um, Northern Ireland International, 20-year-old young goalkeeper at Shaffi Wednesday, and a kid with incredible potential. Uh, I think we've we've we spoke about Pierce a lot since that game. Look, we've spoken about Pierce many times over over the last couple of years. I mean, I remember watching him for the 18s in the FA Youth Cup games, and he stood out then, saw him pre-season with Wednesday, and he stood out again in the 23 preseason with with Cisco. And yeah, there's been a lot said over about Pierce for for many years now. And I think the game against Leicester was just a showcase of just what he's got in his locker. We've heard so much about how good he is with his feet, the the way that he's been used in in midfield in trading sessions when they've been short of a man in the past. Spoken before about chats I've had with with Barry Bannon and Josh Windass about how good Piers can be and the potential that he's got. But I think the Leicester game was was just like I say, it was it was the proof. It was the proof and the pudding of of what he has got available to him. Like I said, people know about his feet. You know, there's been videos done the rounds of of his distribution and and the way he's able to pick people out. But yeah, that Leicester game was up there with one of the best goalkeeping performances I've seen from a Wednesday goalkeeper. You know, you look back to to Kieran Westwood, uh the Norwich one sticks out. You look at Kevin Pressman. I mean, he he was you know my my the only goalkeeper I really knew growing up as a Wednesday because he was there for so long. Some brilliant performances against Sheffield United over the years, but yeah, as an individual singular performance, I don't think it really gets much better than Pierce against Leicester. You know, there was a highlights video released after the game, and you you watch all these different highlights and you you wonder which one was the best. I do think the first one from Skip, the the close rangeness of it, the fact that it was going into the top corner, the fact it was hit with so much power, he had no right to get on to the end of that. I think if it had gone in, not a single person would have laid any blame at the door of Piers Charles. So for him to keep that out was was was unbelievable. There was Ayu's header towards the end that literally got Wednesday a point because that had gone in, would have been game over, would have been a defeat. So yeah, just just a just a brilliant performance. I think we we saw we saw so much from from Pierce in that game, just in terms of we saw what he can do with his feet, we saw what he can do with you know with his shot stopping, but I think we we also saw a lot about his his personality and his his courage and his bravery. This kid has has had shoulder injuries this season, you know, one on each side, but yet we're still seeing him throw himself at the feet of of unrussian attackers, throwing his body on the line. And I think to be doing that in a what is ultimately a battle that has already been lost in terms of Wednesday being relegated, to see him doing that for his for his club that he's he's been with with for the last few years since he was snapped up after leaving Man City. I think it just says a lot about him and his personality. And yeah, I think we're lucky Wednesday lucky to have him, Wednesday fans are lucky to be to be watching him, and I really do think we're gonna see big, big things from this this keeper in in the future. You know, I I've been asked what what level I think he can get to, and I I really do think the sky's the limit. I think he's the sort of player that will play in play better in teams as the teams get better. You know, he's you you you look at what he what he does and the way that he plays, and you know, you you wouldn't be out of place in a team like like Barca, who play with the ball at their feet so much, and but he's shown that he can he can do the important stuff, which is keeping the ball out of the net as well. I suppose the only hope at this point is you know that that Wednesday get a decent price for him, that there's a nice sell-on, hopefully, because it does feel like uh it's a bit inevitable that he's gonna be he's gonna be leaving probably over the summer. You know, anyone who's been watching Wednesday's games when he's playing knows what he's about. There's been interest from Rangers, there's been interest from Strasbourg. Um we know we know that there's going to be eyes on on Pierce. Everyone's seen what he's done with international level as well, with Northern Ireland. So yeah, yeah, it does feel inevitable that we won't be seeing Piers Charles in a in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt for much longer. You just hope that unlike in the past, Wednesday get a decent price for him if and when he does go, because this kid has got a like say, he's got a very, very big future ahead of him. Sticking on Piers Charles, and this is uh a not so bright note. Unfortunately, there was some racist uh some racist comments on his on his Instagram after the game uh the other day against Leicester. It's such a it's such a sad state of affairs, really, in 2026 to to still be dealing with stuff like this. You know, Sheffield Wednesday put out a a statement afterwards and they obviously condemned it. They they there were some some strong words from the club. You know, we don't know who this person is. This is a you know, it's a it's a faceless person on on Instagram, you know, it's a private account, it's a name with a load of numbers on the back of it. We we don't know who this fan supports, we don't know if it's a a a real person, even it could, it could be a bot, anything like that, you know. That that is just the the sorry state of the world we live in now. But it does it does take some of the I suppose some of the shine off things, you know. Pierce is a is a strong lad. You know, I've had I've had the chance to to chat with Pierce quite a lot over the years, and I know he he won't let something like this get to him, but you know, he's he's just had this game of a lifetime so far, you know, everyone's singing his praises, he he's logging onto social media to see all these brilliant messages from his teammates, from fans, from you know, teammates at international level and and all this kind of thing. And then you see something like that, and it's just yeah, no matter how strong you are, no matter what your uh your your sort of how high your levels are in dealing with stuff like this, it it's it's just not it's not nice, is it? You know, to log on and see comments like that. So yeah, I think you know the the the response from from fans has has been as you'd expect. The response from the club was strong, and I know that it's something that that PS won't let get to him too much, thankfully. But yeah, just a very sorry state of affairs that we're still seeing stuff like this in 2026. Sheffield Wednesday are aware of disgraceful and completely unacceptable racist messages directed towards one of our players on social media following Monday's game against Leicester. The club condemn in the strongest tone any form of racism or discrimination and will work side by side with the relevant authorities to bring the offenders to justice. It's not the first time we find ourselves in this position. It is deplorable on every level. Our zero tolerance stance remains steadfast and unequivocal. Racism is cowardly, it has no place in society. We stand together and only together can we stamp it out. Yeah, just makes me very depressed. Um hopefully we don't see any more of that in the near future. But whether it's at Wednesday or elsewhere, it is unfortunately something that we see far, far too often. Into a bit of news. Uh, there's a young lad who is on trial at Shaffi Wednesday from from Birmingham City. He's been at Lemmington on uh for for the sort of I suppose the last couple of months. He's got a I think got five goals in in March. He goes by the name of Frank Tatum. Um young Frank, 20-year-old striker, uh, did some really good bits in the the youth setup at Birmingham City, helped him win the the PDL title not too long back. And you know, Wednesday taking a look at him. He he started in a 2-0, sorry, came on in a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic this week, showed what he can do by scoring in that one, which is not the not the worst start in the world when you're trying to impress a new club. Um, but yeah, he he's he's done he's done well for himself so far. It's gonna be interesting to see what happens. He you know, he he could potentially start this uh later this weekend in the next in the next 21s game. Uh we'll see what happens there. But yeah, he's a he's a player that is is looking for a new club at the end of end of this season, and we know Wednesday are on the lookout for for youngsters that can come in and bolster their ranks. There's gonna be a lot of changes at Shaffi Wednesday this summer. First team, 21s, 18s. There's gonna be people moving up and getting their first scholarships, it's gonna be people moving on, um, and there's obviously there's gonna be, I think, a fair chunk of the the 21s this season that will form form part of of Henrik Pederson's first team next season. So yeah, there's gonna be a lot of change at Wednesday, and you know, we we've seen a lot of of trialists that have been in and played for the 18s, for the 21s, and I think we'll still see more of that. There's there's only a handful of games for for both the the 21s and the 18s, but yeah, I do think we'll see quite a few young lads come in who are uh you know new faces that people won't have seen before wearing blue and white. And we also might start to get a better idea of who could be moving on at the end of the season as well, depending on whether you know the the players that are currently there start to look elsewhere for for new clubs as clubs are doing, sorry, as players are doing with with Sheffield Wednesday. So yeah, we'll that that's one to keep an eye on. We'll we'll have all that all that news for you over on the Wednesday. So keep uh keep your eyes on there and we'll we'll see what happens on that front. Elsewhere, there's been some good news for George Brown, who got 45 minutes in that game against Wigan. I think everyone's looking forward to seeing George Brown back in this Wednesday side. He's uh you know he's a bit of a throwback striker in in many ways. He's he's big, he's boisterous, he'll battle for everything, and I think he's he's one of those players that that that really sort of bought in to sort of similar to what we were saying about Jerry H really bought into the scrap this year. You know, got a couple of goals early on, and it's it's been really nice to see um uh a kid who has come into the academy quite late on. He you know, he was at a he was at an academy in Leeds, and and for him to sort of step in and do what he did at senior level has has been brilliant. And it'd be great to see him sort of finish the season quite strongly, maybe get a goal or two to his name ahead of next season because he does feel like the sort of player that could be a real asset in League One. Um, like I say, given the way that he plays, he's a you know, he's a forward that could be a real threat uh against some of those League One defenses. Um and I'm sure he will uh he'll lap up the opportunity as well. Um I did want to talk a little bit about Nathaniel Shalabar. Um obviously he's had a he's had a tough time of things at Wednesday this well since he joined really from an injury perspective. But I think we saw against Leicester just just what sort of what he's got in his locker and the capabilities that he he has. You know, Shalabar is uh clearly a very, very good footballer. You know, he he came he's got he comes from from good stock, and and I think, like I say, the the Leicester game showed uh how he can control games, his his ability on the ball, the the the calmness and possession that he has. And I think you we noticed when he went off the the difference when he's not there, I suppose, as as much as the difference when he is. And I think that's something that you know Wednesday need to try and um you know try and get the best out of of him with with what's remaining of the rest of the season. Look, I I do think that ultimately the there will be the end of the road for for Shalabar at Wednesday at the end of this season. Um not sure League One is the is the is the place for him, and you know his contract is coming to an end. So yeah, that that side of things I do think we'll we'll probably see um the final Shalabar's Wednesday career come to an end at the end of this season. But uh it would be nice to see you know see what he can do for the last few games because he's a you know he's a great footballer to watch. He's very, very easy on the eye when he's playing well. And yeah, I just think he deserves a you know a bit of credit for the way that he's his performances coming back into the into the setup at Sheffield Wednesday. Another thing that that was uh that's on the Wednesday word this week. If you want to go go check it out, I spoke to Kieran Lee, who's the the manager of Sheffield Wednesday ladies. He's you know he's stepped back into a role, he's he's been there before, but has more recently spent time with the under-18s and working within the the youth setup of of Wednesday Ladies. But yeah, had to step up to the plate after the departure of uh of Andy Gilligan recently. And there's some really interesting stuff from from Kieran. You know, he's he had a good record before, he they've done well since he came in. I think it's set uh six points from from a possible nine since he since he came over as back into his role as as manager. Got two big games left. Um Leeds Modern were top of the league. That's gonna be uh it's gonna be a tough one. That the Leeds Modernions have had a really, really good season. And Rossington Maine, that feels like a game that Wendy could get something out of. The the top two is is is too much of an ask, I think, given given the way the table stands so far. But to finish third or fourth after only coming up last season is is a is a good step. You know, they went on and had a good mid-table finish last year. To finish third or fourth this season will be would be you know, it will be real progress. And and after that, the the the progress is that I suppose the next level of progress is to is to step up and and move into the the promotion positions. Um, you know, that's that's what they want to do. They want to keep moving up the tables, and you know, that would be a a really good step. If they can secure third place this season and and get that done, then yeah, to see them sort of pushing on and trying to get up again would be brilliant. You know, there's been talk of possibly going under Wednesday's wing at some point in the future with with an American ownership. It's you know, we we know how how big the women's game is in America, and that that could be something that that that arise looked to look to do. Unfortunately, for Wednesday ladies, they they've been treated as an afterthought for you know for so long under Chancellor. He you know, they they were effectively told to be you know happy with the fact that they were able to even use the use the the badge and use the name. So you know it would be it would be great to see them um sort of taken under the wing of of Wednesday. But interesting listening to Kieran talk, and he's like, yes, it would be great, and it would it would offer them you know some some real support in what they're doing and and add to their aspirations for what they want to achieve. But the way Kieran sees it is it's a case of you know, you've got to earn that right. And you know, if they keep doing the right things, if they keep running themselves the right way, um then then ultimately that that that will come at the end of the day. Dave Dave Higgins and and and the team over at Wednesday Ladies do a do a great job. I think there's over 200 um women and and and young girls who are uh a part of the setup there and the you know that they are they are making progress you know there's a a 16 year old annie hall who's who's coming through at the moment she stepped up to the first team and and in in kieran's words is absolutely bossing it so that's nice to see there are you know that there's so much um sort of progress that that can be made there and and they're looking to to improve they're looking to kick on and I think that that is a a position that um that they can really build on and and that's that's really nice to see so if you want to go check out my interview with with Kieran that's over on the Wednesday and uh yeah that there's some there's some really interesting stuff in there and you know he he gives a lot of thoughts on the the the current status quo the the potential future of of Sheffield Wednesday ladies and you know what it would mean to to potentially have the the the you know the senior men's team involved in what they're doing in the club itself. Of course there is another game coming up this weekend away at Coventry City and that is going to be a tough one. I think you know of all the teams Wednesday have played this season Coventry are probably the one that that impressed the most against Wednesday they they really you know blew us away in that in that first um well the the game at Hillsborough um all those months ago feels like a lifetime but yeah that this is a this is a very very tough game where Wednesday are in a position where they are as much as they're you know they're they're scrapping and they're they're fighting for for pride they don't really have anything left to play for and that is definitely not the case with with Coventry City so they will be uh they'll they'll be hoping to come flying out the blocks Frank Lampard's done a done a fantastic job there like I say they've got some some big hitters they've got some they play some great football they score plenty of goals um and against the Wednesday side that have uh have been a little bit fragile so we say at various different points in the season that it could be a a long old afternoon again against the Sky Blues you know it'd be good to see some some players come back you know hopefully maybe see see a bit more of George Brown in that game if he's if he's able to you know if he's come through the wig and game I think we'll get a better idea of that whether he's he's named in the in the 21 squad on on Friday or not if he's not then I I do think we'll see him in and around the first team set up at at Wednesday against Coventry another one that will be worth keeping an eye on is is Joel and Dala um he's had a couple of issues with his his timekeeping you know we've seen him left out the side before he he wasn't in the squad at against Leicester City um after you know being being late for the the team bus leaving against Stoke. As Alex Miller reported as well you know that there are sort of talks happening about whether or not there should be further action taken there's there's potential for him to end up going back to to Manchester City depending on on what is what is decided obviously it's not uh it's not a a great situation to be in for for him um you know timekeeping is is a big thing for for henrik peders and he he's he's keen to to make sure that the professional standards remain um despite the situation at Wednesday despite the the difficulties that the the the the club is is going through you know things like that are are things that they they're controllable that it it's stuff that um you know should should be a given I suppose what Wednesday are so so much is out of Wednesday's control so much is out of the manager's control or the players control being on time and and that kind of thing is is not so it'll be interesting to see sort of what the decision is there. It's definitely one to to keep an eye on um in in the in the coming in the coming I suppose next couple of games there's not that long left of the season now but yeah it's going to be very interesting to see what happens with with Joel and Darla because I think there is a there's a there's a a big chunk of of Henrik that will will rather give those chances to a a young Wednesday academy player who is you know is able to to turn up on time and do do those things right. Before we wrap up I um I just want to do a little bit of housekeeping I suppose from my side again massive thank you to everyone that's subscribed to to the channel so far that's that you know whether it's the YouTube whether it's the the actual Wednesday website whether you've joined us on social media just a big thank you to everybody that's that's got involved and on the back of that I um I've teamed up with with terrace who have got some brilliant stuff on the website they've got loads of Wednesday gear on there and some shirt replicas but they also do like mugs and t-shirts and clothing and you know loads loads of bits on there. So I've I've teamed up with the terrace they've been kind enough to give me 10 20 pound vouchers to uh anyone who's a well that's available to anybody that's a paid subscriber I'll be announcing the the the winners of of that next week so if you're not a paid subscriber and you do fancy getting involved in that it's a fiver a month and that will help cover everything. You know the I'm not going to be changing the prices in the future uh the the fiver a month yes it pays for your you know the the website and and and it pays for your access to the paid articles on there but it also allows me to to run this YouTube channel it allows me to keep knocking on with the with the social media whether it's the graphics or the videos or the interviews that I do all that is part of that you know that five pound uh that five pound price so if you are able to get involved in that it would be brilliant to have you um but and yeah there will be you know 10 20 pound sorry 20 10 pound vouchers up for grabs for for paid subscribers and on top of that one lucky winner will get a£40 voucher as well which is uh that'll get you some really nice gear over on on Terrace so yeah thank you very much for for being part of it thanks for listening to this episode and uh yeah we'll be back next week with a guest hopefully that's the plan here it'll be one week with little old me and a next week with uh a guest whether it's a a Wednesday fan who's a musician or an actor or a former player you know with the the list event is endless when it comes to the Sheffield Wednesday family so we'll yeah we'll have a guest lined up for next week thank you very much for joining us and I'll see you very soon.