Heartbreak for Sheffield Wednesday as starlets fall at penultimate hurdle
Andy Sharp’s youngsters had a fantastic league campaign in 2024/25, winning 12 of their final 13 matches in the PDL North to claim second place behind Burnley. It was enough to secure their spot in the championship play-offs, pitting them against PDL South winners, Bristol City, with the tie booked in for Ashton Gate.
Wednesday have a young side that features several players playing above their age group, and the hope was that they could keep up their immaculate league form and book their place in the final against Watford later this month.
Sheffield Wednesday U18s beaten
Unfortunately it wasn’t to be, though, with Reubin Sheppard and Louis Derrick scoring the goals in a 2-0 home victory, bringing to an end the young Owls’ season. At 1-0 Sheppard was denied a second from the spot by goalkeeper, Logan Stretch, but it wasn’t enough to spur on the team in blue and white to a comeback and the second half ended goalless.
The Robins will now go on to face the Hornets in the final as both PDL South teams make it through to the finale of the competition, and while many young Wednesday players will be back to go again next season, there will be others that step up to the U21s or leave over the summer. Even in defeat they can be very proud of the way their 2024/25 campaign played out.
Wednesday’s turned out as follows in Bristol: Stretch, Jessop (Swales 76), Emery (c), Hatfield (Ridge 65), Alao, Kay (De Oliveira 76), Kakay, Sopala, Clayton (Weston 46), Grainger, Cadamarteri
Steven Gerrard sees Rangers status wiped out as German duo rise in a next manager hunt flipped on its head
The former boss is going back the way in the eyes of oddsmakers
Former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has dropped to third in the running as the money piles on German duo Marco Rose and Danny Rohl.
The 44-year-old – who managed the Ibrox side for three-and-a-half years between 2018 and 2021 – was entrenched as the favourite but has now been leapfrogged by the exiting Sheffield Wednesday boss and the free agent.
A report down south stated Ibrox chiefs have Gerrard plus Gary O’Neill, Rob Edwards and Russell Martin as names of interest, however, the man who delivered 55 now sits behind both Rose and Rohl.
Former Ibrox chairman Dave King reckons a new boss may be on the backburner with a raft of paperwork needing addressed for the new regime.
But oddsmakers sense a shift and have acted accordingly.
Betfair spokesperson Sam Rosbottom said: “Marco Rose is the 6/4 favourite to be the next Rangers manager as rumours continue to swirl over who will become the next permanent boss at Ibrox. Danny Rohl followed Rose at 11/4, with Steven Gerrard 5/1 to return to Glasgow.
“Elsewhere, Derek McInnes is 8/1 to take the job, with Sean Dyche 10/1. Meanwhile, current interim Barry Ferguson is the 28/1 outsider to be offered the role permanently.”
Betfair: Next permanent Rangers manager
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