Sheffield Wednesday are already looking to Lincoln City as a model for success as they prepare for life back in League One.
The Owls have begun groundwork for next season, with a visit to the Imps and a meeting with sporting director Jez George part of their early planning.
Owls Turn to Lincoln City Example Ahead of League One Return
For the first time in the two clubs’ history, Sheffield Wednesday will start the season in a lower division than the Imps next time out. It’s remarkable that we’ve only experienced parity nine times; the Owls have always been in a higher division than the Imps.
They may still have five games left to play this season, but their focus is already shifting firmly towards the rebuild after relegation was confirmed a while ago. They were the first team to be relegated, and us the first to be promoted. While we look up to a historic season, they now face the prospect of returning to League One, and preparations are well underway behind the scenes.
Manager Henrik Pedersen is expected to lead that rebuild, and one of his first steps has been to study the division his side will soon be competing in. That process includes a direct link to us, as he has confirmed he will travel to meet Imps’ sporting director Jez George, highlighting a clear intention to understand how City have achieved their success.
“We can learn from a lot of clubs,” Pedersen said. “I am speaking with the sporting director from Lincoln on Wednesday. You see, he wants to learn from the Championship. I want to learn from League One.
“How Lincoln have done it this season in League One, we can only have respect for this. I am looking to speak with other people too, because I think as more we understand League One, a better chance we have to do something really good in League One.”
The comments underline the growing reputation of our model, built on recruitment, structure and efficiency rather than excessive spending, something that has clearly caught the attention of clubs looking to reset. If you need any further proof, check out the host of podcasts telling you how we’ve done it, starting with Not The Top 20‘s excellent analysis.
Scouting Drive Highlights Scale of Wednesday’s Reset
Wednesday’s approach is not limited to a single visit. Pedersen has tasked his staff with an extensive scouting operation, sending them across the north of England to watch multiple League One fixtures each week.
That work is already underway and will continue before the end of the current campaign, as the Owls attempt to build a detailed picture of the division they are about to re-enter.
“We have this three times more before the season is done, so we are so well prepared as possible for the understanding of League One,” Pedersen said. “We do all that we can.”
Relegation is a nasty by-product of the Owls slowly getting back on their feet after the poisonous Chansiri era. They’re still deep in the mire, but as a huge club nationally, they deserve better, and their long-suffering fans certainly deserve better. Coming to chat to Jez is an indication that football is slowly learning, and Lincoln City are the example to follow.
It will also benefit the Imps. Stepping into the Championship for the first time in the modern era is surely daunting for our key personnel, who now have to scale the successful model to compete at a higher level, and bending the ear of someone who has done it, and on limited funds this season, can only help.
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