Danny Rohl not only has a music, but he also calls it. And it appears that his employer will have to dance to it if Sheffield Wednesday are to capitalise on their long-awaited relegation escape this weekend.
In any case, the inspirational young manager should be courted as much as possible to determine the Owls’ future. With a clear plan. While all of the above may seem clear, it is a very rare situation. This is certainly a first for Dejphon Chansiri, who has always had to be appeased, rather than the other way around.
You’d think he’s not looking forward to the change in dynamics. Normally, the manager would be more concerned than the chairman about relegation. No previous manager had ventured to publicly challenge Chansiri to create the circumstances for long-term success.
Although Rohl has not made his demands personal, his verbiage and body language have left little question that if his vision for the club is not met, he may see his future elsewhere. It is also clear that his expectations for infrastructure enhancements, in addition to team support, will be costly.
Rohl makes them with the almost certain certainty that if Chansiri does not deliver to his expectations, he will have attractive possibilities for advancement in his job. Against that, as the man who pays the bills and has spent millions of dollars on Wednesday’s cause, the owner is unwilling to play second fiddle.
Will he be smarting? You believe it must irritate him secretly that Rohl will receive all of the credit if Wednesday completes their epic escape, while he will bear all of the responsibility if they do not.
If this were a game of chess, Chansiri would be in checkmate. Can he afford to gratify Rohl, even if he wants to? Can he afford not to? It’s difficult to imagine the German sitting around for an investment or a sale.
But, underneath it all, you feel Rohl would not be playing his hand as fiercely if he did not want to stay. I believe he does, and with the same enthusiasm that his followers have shown him.
Even so, it’s a small window to climb through, but it opens out to a panoramic view. The status of Chansiri’s ownership is dependent on how this plays out.
It’s surprising that off-field intrigue matches, if not overshadows, the on-field drama of Wednesday needing a point at Sunderland – a club linked with Rohl – to avoid a once-certain return to League One. That reflects both Rohl’s influence and his potential as a revolutionary force for the club. There are no more half measures, either on or off the pitch. Rohl understands that seeking a point is one of the most perilous situations in sports.
How clever he is to reject that strategy and insist on maintaining the bold, winning mindset that has underpinned everything he has accomplished. But he and Wednesday need two major results right now, not just one.
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