Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl has admitted that his relationship with his players will play a big part in any potential departures.
The German has been a revelation since joining the Owls in October 2023. He pulled off the great escape last season to avoid relegation from the Championship, a feat that looked almost impossible upon his appointment. He’s followed up that form this season by putting the Yorkshire based club in contention for an unlikely play-off place, with Wednesday currently sitting in 10th, three points off the top six.
This has inevitably led to interest in some of his senior players. Talisman Josh Windass is once again attracting the attention of clubs from South America, with Brazilian giants Santos amongst his admirers. Elsewhere, attacker Michael Smith is wanted by League One title chasers Wrexham.
Rohl Expecting Interest
Rohl knows that with good form comes attention, admitting it is no surprise to see his players garnering interest from elsewhere. Speaking to The Star, the 35-year-old said:
“Of course we have some interesting players now at a good age that perform on a good level. If we are doing well and we make a lot of things right, there is always a good chance to keep players here and convince them.
“We have created an identity here and we show them. I think the relationship between my players and the staff and the relationship with me is a big, big part. It means if they get a request they will not immediately jump away. But of course if you are successful – and at the moment we are not bad – then the interest from other clubs will come. We will try to develop and push more and more.”
The same report indicates that whilst there is interest in the likes of Windass and Smith, Wednesday’s valuation of the players is unlikely to be met.
Writer’s View
The transformation at Sheffield Wednesday over the last 12 months has been staggering to see. As such, it’s only natural that other clubs will be sniffing around their players to see if they can take advantage. This is a testament to the job which Rohl has done since his appointment. However, the German has always been public in his approach to his squad, adapting a ‘player first’ mentality. This will see these players commit their loyalty to the head coach, which could prove invaluable to their promotion ambitions.
