Sheffield Wednesday has terminated the contract of head coach Henrik Pedersen after a period of just under 15 months. This decision comes in the wake of two consecutive League One losses within a five-day span.
Pedersen’s final match at the helm was a 2-0 defeat against Doncaster Rovers in a South Yorkshire derby on Saturday. During this game, the 48-year-old faced calls for his dismissal from fans after his team conceded two goals in the opening 17 minutes.
Matt Hamshaw, who previously managed Rotherham United for less than a year last season before joining Wednesday as a coach in August, has been appointed as interim head coach. He will lead the team for their upcoming match against sixth-placed Cambridge United on Tuesday.
The Owls, who were relegated last season after a difficult 2025-26 campaign marked by financial issues, fan protests, and an 18-point deduction, are currently eighth in the league standings. They are two points adrift of the play-off positions after 11 games.
In a statement, Sheffield Wednesday acknowledged Pedersen’s role in providing “stability and leadership” during a “exceptional period in the club’s history.”
Sporting director Simon Wilson stated that while the club anticipated a “difficult” start to the season, they had hoped for “a recognisable style of play and greater consistency in our performances.” Wilson added, “Although we have accumulated points, we haven’t seen enough progress in those areas.” He believes that “making a change now gives us the best opportunity to establish those foundations and build towards the second half of the season and beyond.”
The Danish coach also oversaw a 2-0 loss to Notts County on Tuesday, contributing to a recent run of one win in six league matches, during which Wednesday failed to score in four of those games.
Following the Doncaster defeat, Pedersen commented on hearing chants against him from the supporters, stating, “I’m hurting like they are hurt.” He expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, saying, “After zero points from two games, I’m not happy… nobody is happy.” He remained hopeful, adding, “I’m sure we can bounce back and have a strong season.”
According to Rob Staton of BBC Radio Sheffield, the fan sentiment turned against Pedersen after the matches against Notts County and Doncaster Rovers, with repeated chants of “We want Henrik out” heard.
Saturday’s match saw Pedersen experiment with a 3-5-2 formation, a tactical choice that drew attention, particularly the selection of Kieran Morrison, a Liverpool-affiliated winger, as a left wing-back. While Morrison possesses attacking talent, his defensive capabilities are considered less developed at this stage of his career, making the role an unnatural fit.
The tactical switch did not yield the desired results, with the team trailing 2-0 after just 20 minutes, prompting Pedersen to revert to a back four before a quarter of the game had elapsed. This rapid abandonment of a bold tactical call was seen as a negative.
Wednesday’s performance in the first half against Doncaster was described as “limp and lifeless,” a recurring issue seen in previous matches against teams like Doncaster, Notts County, Huddersfield, Stockport, and Salford in the EFL Trophy. Despite making changes, the team struggled to impose themselves in the initial 45 minutes.
The fact that Wednesday managed to create chances in the second half on Saturday, despite their earlier struggles, was seen by some as making the situation worse, highlighting their potential but inconsistent application.
The club’s new ownership had given Pedersen an opportunity, but have now acted decisively to make a change. Their next challenge is to ensure their first managerial appointment proves to be the right one.
