Stuart Gray, as head coach, led Wednesday going into the 2014/15 season. The summer started with the leak that Azerbaijan billionaire Hafiz Mammadov had agreed to take over the club from Milan Mandaric. This claim was further strengthened when he sponsored the club shirt with his ‘Land of Fire’ brand, the same as was on the kits of Athletico Madrid! More on that later!
After steadying the ship Stuart Gray began strengthening the side. A number of young players joined to strengthen the academy side but the biggest captures were Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Keiran Westwood, Leeds central defender Tom Lees and Chelsea defensive midfielder Sam Hutchinson, returning on a permanent deal having enjoyed his time on loan.
A number of players were released this summer including Onyewu, Prutton, cult-hero Réda Johnson, Miguel Llera, Danny Mayor and Anthony Gardner. Also leaving the club after a long association was faster-than-bolt Jamaican winger Jermaine Johnson.
Preseason included trips to York, Barnsley and Doncaster and a bizarre fixture where we faced Bury at Salford rugby club.
Our home pre-season warm up finished Owls 0-1 Newcastle - Ayoze Perez with the only goal of the game.
6th Aug - Antoni-No!
I was in Cardiff the day I found out we had sold Michail Antonio. Genuinely the best player at the club and the only player with any pace. The reported £1.5M fee also was no where near his true valuation, so what was going on at the club? Things had gone quiet on the takeover front which you would think mean things are not quite right.
9th Aug - May Stevie be with you
Stuart Gray used the Antonio money to sign Scottish striker Stevie May from St. Johnstone. He came with a big expectation.
19th Aug - Owls 1-1 Millwall
After a shock win over Brighton on the opening day and a battling draw with Derby our early midweek fixture was at home to Millwall. We led just before the hour through Maguire, but couldn’t see the game out and allowed Millwall to grab a 95th minute equaliser. A decent start in the circumstances.
30th Aug - Deadline Business
Wednesday sign french Defender Claude Dielna on a free transfer from Greek side Olympiakos. We also complete the loan signings of youngster Hallam Hope from Everton and Dutch former Ajax and Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe, a player who was genuinely dubbed as the next big thing when he starred in the Under-21 European Championships for his national side.
4th Sept - Collapse
On what was the clubs anniversary it was revealed that the elusive Mammadov’s proposed takeover had collapsed following money laundering allegations in his homeland. It would later emerge Wednesday had not received the payments for the shirt sponsorship either.
18th Oct - Owls 0-3 Watford
Seriously Watford just go up! Another Hillsborough thrashing against the Hornets. Goals from Odion Ighalo, Almen Abdi and Vydra saw Watford run out easy winners. Form had just dipped after a steady but not spectacular start to the season.
25th Oct - Taylor-Fletcher In
After several failed attempts we bring in Leicester's experienced striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher on loan in what would be come a bye-word for Wednesdayite’s everywhere. He played four games and scored zero goals.
4th Nov - Owls 0-2 Bournemouth
This midweek defeat made it eight without a win. Having held our own against promotion chasing Bournemouth referee Mike Dean sent off Royston Drenthe on the hour. Nine minutes later we were two-nil down and the game was done.
19th Nov - Enter Lewis McGugan
Lewis McGugan joined Wednesday on loan, and whilst clearly well short of match practice he clearly had talent above and beyond some of his temporary colleagues
29th Nov - Owls 2-1 Wigan
At last! Stevie May scored his first goal since the 1-0 Reading victory on 20th September - coincidentally our last victory!
26th Dec - Owls 1-0 Blackpool
Having been smashed 4-0 at Fulham a few days before Wednesday battled for the victory courtesy of a Maguire penalty on a bog of a pitch that would have been better suited to park football.
4th Jan - Man City 2-1 Owls
Wednesday fans travelled in number to our Premier League hosts Manchester City and those lucky folk were treated to Atdhe Nuhiu giving us the lead. A lead we held onto until the very end. Unfortunately City showed their class and were able to turn it and reverse the outcome in the tight encounter.
29th Jan - Enter Chansiri
To little pre-warning news of a takeover by Thai businessman Deijphon Chansiri began to surface over the weekend after the owls had been held to a goalless draw by Birmingham City, culminating in an announcement the following Monday in a joint press conference between Milan Mandaric and Mr. Chansiri. During the press conference Chansiri, speaking through an interpreter, discussed how he would was targeting the Owls upcoming 150th anniversary to get the club back to the Premier League - was it finally time to cash the premier return ticket in?
31st Jan - Deadline Day!
Traditionally deadline day for Wednesday revolves around the capture of an ageing journeyman who could do us a job, or trying to hold onto one or two of our better players. This time things were different. Wednesday splashed the cash on a mix of loan players and permanent signings. Romanian striker Sergiu Bus, Manchester United fullback Marnick Vermijl and Portuguese midfielder Filipe Melo joining permanently, whilst striker Will Keane again of Manchester United, Lewis McGugan returning and latterly winger Lloyd Isgrove of Southampton all made temporary switches.
24th Feb - Millwall 1-3 Owls
Whilst working away in Guildford I decided to make the relatively short trip across to Millwall. I was treated to our first victory in 8 games. Goals from McGugan, Nuhiu and May were enough for us.
21st Mar - Rotherham 2-3 Owls
In a game that has gone down in history Wednesday came out on top with the odd goal in five. The game had seen some pre-match needle in the shape of on-line taunting from a Rotherham player, that came back to bite in this tie. The Millers went one up early in the second half. A Lavery equaliser was cancelled out by Jordan Bowery a minute later, with what looked like a late winner. But the game quickly spun on its head as Nuhiu bagged a 93rd minute equaliser. Then eight into added on time Kieran Lee, revelling in a midfield role these days, made history to slide home the winner. The kit man ran the length of the pitch to celebrate and then the miller killer was born.
4th Apr - Owls 1-1 Huddersfield
A week later in a more tepid affair Wednesday’s foreign recruit scored his first (and eventually only) goal for the club. Bus scoring to give us an 86th minute lead only for it to be cancelled out Ishmael Miller three minutes later.
18th Apr - Bournemouth 2-2 Owls
Promotion chasing Bournemouth were expecting a win to about wrap up the title against mid table Wednesday. And they went ahead on half hour through Steve Cook. But Wednesday battled back and Lee levelled six minutes later. Bournemouth led again in the second half but late in the game Maguire came up with another goal to send the travelling fans barmy in the southern England sunshine.
2nd May - Watford 1-1 Owls
After a disappointing last home game of the season Wednesday travelled to Watford who knew victory would guarantee them the title (handed to them by our late equaliser at Bournemouth, who sat in second). A strong squad boasting the likes of Deeney, Anya, Abdi, Forestieri and Ighalo went ahead through Vydra on 25 minutes.
As the game progressed Watford became increasingly nervous and Wednesday began to create chances. Substitute Nuhiu took his chance in the 91st minute to send the travelling fans barmy again. And we were nearly not finished - the referee blowing for time as Lloyd Isgrove raced through deep into added time for what would have been a winner. It didn’t matter as we were stuck in mid table, however this result allowed Bournemouth to leap frog the home side on the final day. Incredible scenes.
This summer we went into the break in the knowledge that we had the backing of a super-rich owner, and a manager who for me had shown himself to be an astute and steady pair of hands. The January signings had not particularly achieved what we had hoped, but the main thought for most was that we had to keep hold of McGugan.
The future looked bright.
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