"Shock to be fired" – Henrik Pedersen surprised, can't accept Sheffield Wednesday decision

Pedersen says his sacking came as a shock after Sheffield Wednesday's nine-game unbeaten run, citing just two recent defeats as the reason for his dismissal.

Henrik Pedersen has expressed surprise at Sheffield Wednesday's decision to sack him, saying the timing caught him off guard. The Danish manager was dismissed with immediate effect two days before his statement, with Matt Hamshaw taking over as interim manager and drawing 1-1 against Cambridge United in his first match.

Pedersen took charge of the League One club in July 2025 when it was in financial turmoil following EFL regulation breaches. Despite the challenging circumstances, he had committed to the role, telling media earlier this year: "I can't just abandon people. It's so far from my nature."

Speaking to Denmark's TV2, Pedersen said he didn't anticipate the sacking after the club's strong form. "I definitely thought there would be a longer string than losing two games after a strong, strong period," he explained. "After nine unbeaten games and then losing two, it's of course a shock to be fired on the basis of that." He acknowledged the difficulty of integrating 18 new players in League One's demanding 46-game schedule but felt the team had shown stability and growth before the recent defeats to Notts County and Doncaster Rovers.