Former Rotherham United manager Matt Hamshaw has taken interim charge of Sheffield Wednesday following Henrik Pedersen’s dismissal, as reported by The Star.
The 44-year-old will oversee first-team matters while the Owls search for a permanent appointment, beginning with Tuesday’s home meeting with Cambridge United.
Former Rotherham boss handed Hillsborough responsibility
Hamshaw steps into the role just over two months after returning to the club where his playing career began. A product of Wednesday’s youth system, he made 88 senior appearances and scored four goals before leaving in 2005.
His latest opportunity follows a managerial spell at Rotherham, which ended in March. He initially returned to the Millers as interim manager following Steve Evans’ departure in March 2025, earning a three-year permanent contract the following month.
That tenure ended after a 5-0 defeat against Peterborough United left Rotherham six points from safety with nine fixtures remaining. Hamshaw recorded 16 wins and 12 draws from his 53 matches in charge.
He had previously worked alongside Paul Warne at both Rotherham and Derby County, following him to Pride Park in September 2022. Hamshaw also oversaw two draws as Derby’s caretaker manager after Warne was dismissed in February 2025, before leaving later that month.
Before his first managerial appointment, Hamshaw had spent a decade developing his coaching career at Rotherham. He began working with the club’s academy in 2012 and later progressed to first-team duties under Warne.
Wednesday highlighted experience on his return
Wednesday brought Hamshaw back in August after coach Craig Mudd left for Manchester City. Sporting director Simon Wilson pointed to his divisional knowledge and work on set pieces when explaining the appointment.
“Matt arrives with the type of experience we were looking to add – he has been a serial winner in League One. In addition to the strong knowledge he possesses of League One and the Championship, he also has a very current understanding of the teams and challenges we will face this season.
“He brings something different to what we have within the coaching group, including a strong focus on set pieces, which we know is essential in today’s game.”
Hamshaw now inherits a side sitting two points outside the play-off places following successive defeats. Owen Bailey scored twice before half-time in Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Doncaster Rovers, with Pedersen dismissed the following afternoon.
Hamshaw offers continuity while Wednesday assess their next appointment, having already worked with the squad since August. His previous caretaker experience should also help with the immediate demands of preparing for Cambridge on Tuesday.
His Rotherham spell provides a reminder that coaching experience and managerial results are separate considerations. With the play-offs still within reach, the immediate priority is to improve performances and prevent the recent defeats from developing into a longer sequence.
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