By Harry Whitfield, with additional reporting from Tom Blackett
Sheffield Wednesday have struck an agreement to hire Dave Challinor as their new first-team manager.
The Owls confirmed the news ahead of Sunday’s League One match against Blackpool, with Challinor scheduled to attend at Hillsborough.
The club stated more information about the 51-year-old’s hiring would be announced on Monday, when he will be formally introduced to Wednesday fans.
Following Henrik Pedersen’s departure last weekend, Challinor emerged as a strong contender for the position, having previously worked with Wednesday sporting director Simon Wilson at Stockport County.
Reunion at Owls
Wilson was vital in bringing Challinor to Edgeley Park, where the two oversaw the Hatters’ promotion from the National League to League One.
Their reunion had been rumoured since both departed Stockport at the end of last season, with Wilson beginning his new post at Wednesday in the summer.
Challinor left Stockport the day after their League One play-off final defeat to Bolton Wanderers in May and hasn’t worked since.
The duo will now be faced with guiding Wednesday’s comeback in the third division.
The Owls are ninth with 19 points after 12 games, three points short of the playoffs.
Pedersen was fired after Wilson highlighted a lack of progress in developing an identifiable style of play and increasing consistency.
Clinical
Meanwhile, Blackpool manager Ian Evatt has urged his struggling team to be more ‘clinical’ against Wednesday.
The Seasiders entered the weekend slightly above the relegation zone, after winning two of their last three league and cup games.
“In those games, and in all of the games, we’ve had spells where we’ve done really well,” said Evatt, who has been left disappointed by defender Fraser Horsfall’s recurrence in his recovery from an ankle injury.
“We scored goals, but we should have scored more given what we did.
“And, in turn, that then relieves pressure on the defensive side of things – not just the backline but on the whole team.”
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