Sturrock knows his Owls will have to scrap to survive

MANAGER Paul Sturrock believes Sheffield Wednesday will need to “bite and scratch” their way through their first season in the Championship.

Wednesday are back in the top tier of the Football League after a dramatic 4-2 extra-time win over Hartlepool in the Coca-Cola League One play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.

It also marked a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Sturrock, who was dismissed just two matches into the Premiership season by Southampton.

Sturrock is now relishing the prospect of chancing his arm against the likes of Leeds, Wolves and the relegated Saints but warned Owls supporters over 40,000 converged on Cardiff on Sunday their side will not have it all their own way in the Championship.

"I've got a huge job now because we are three weeks behind as far as mustering some troops up for next season is concerned," he said.

"We know that we need to bring in four, five or even six players who have course and distance in this league.

"It's important we appreciate next season will be a bite-and-scratch season and we must make sure we are in that league at the end of it.

"We've got a good young group of players and a fantastic fanbase but we've got to make sure we've got back-up to survive."

While the days of FA Cup final and UEFA Cup appearances seem from a bygone era for Wednesday fans, the significance of their win at the Millennium Stadium cannot be underestimated.

The Yorkshire club, who were relegated from the Premiership in 2000, looked to be heading for further disappointment after Eifion Williams and Jon Daly cancelled out Jon-Paul McGovern's first-half opener.

But once Chris Westwood was dismissed for hauling down Drew Talbot in the penalty box, the match swung in Wednesday's favour.

Steve MacLean converted the resulting spot-kick eight minutes from time before goals from Glenn Whelan and Talbot in extra-time confirmed the Owls' promotion.

Sturrock accepted Wednesday fans had been put through the mill in recent years but he believes the club now has the right infrastructure in place to move forward on and off the pitch.

"I wanted to join a football club where there was a challenge and Sheffield Wednesday was a football club with a challenge," he added.

"It's been a hectic 10 years for Sheffield Wednesday after fighting relegation and going down the leagues.

"The debt that they've accrued for falling out of the Premiership has put an albatross around their neck.

"It has been difficult to restructure and develop but the young players who have been brought in have shown that they have the character for it.

"I'm delighted to be working with these players."