Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Howard Wilkinson as a Lifetime President. The club also named Lord David Blunkett and Clive Betts to the same honorary role in a move announced before Saturday's goalless draw with Stockport County.
Sheffield Wednesday said the new positions recognise their 'significant contributions' to Wednesday, the local community and the wider city of Sheffield. The appointments aim to improve the atmosphere around the club following a tumultuous period under former owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Wilkinson’s legacy at Wednesday and beyond
Howard Wilkinson had a successful stint in charge of Sheffield Wednesday before moving to Leeds United. He guided Leeds to the First Division title and later served as the FA’s Technical Director, playing a central role in planning England’s national Football Centre.
Wilkinson had multiple spells as England caretaker boss. His first came following Glenn Hoddle’s departure, taking charge of a friendly against France. He returned after Kevin Keegan quit the post, overseeing a goalless draw against Finland, and later had a spell in charge of the England Under-21s.
Fan sentiment and club context
The move is intended to strengthen the bond with supporters who hold Wilkinson in high esteem. Owls fans regard him highly for his past achievements with the club, and the appointments come as Wednesday look to rebuild stability and fan connection.
The announcement was made as the team continues a strong start to the League One season. Sheffield Wednesday sit second in the table with 14 points from seven games, just one point behind leaders Bradford.
Their last outing was the 0-0 draw with Stockport County at Hillsborough on 19 September. The club's next challenge is an away trip to face Stevenage on 26 September.
Wilkinson’s return to an official role at Sheffield Wednesday comes years after he left the club for Leeds. During his time at Elland Road, he famously sold Eric Cantona to Manchester United for a fee, a player who went on to win four Premier League titles in five seasons. The club’s current top scorer is J. Lowe with four goals in six appearances, and the full squad list is available on our squad page. Sheffield Wednesday’s focus now shifts to maintaining their promotion push at Stevenage this weekend.
First reported at talkSPORT
