Sheffield Wednesday fans haven’t had much to cheer about in recent years, and witnessing an old Hillsborough hero join their bitter, cross-city rivals would have exacerbated their emotions.
The Owls’ decline from Championship promotion contenders nearly a decade ago to League One stints and potential oblivion under Dejphon Chansiri’s controversial ownership, but there has been the occasional glimmer of hope provided by a number of standout performers in S6 during that time.
That was certainly the case during Darren Moore’s two-year tenure at Hillsborough, despite the fact that the former West Bromwich Albion manager supervised Wednesday’s first two seasons in the third division since 2011/12, with the Owls winning the transfer jackpot with a deal involving Cardiff City.
Sheffield Wednesday saw the best of Mark McGuinness after signing a loan agreement with Cardiff City.
Moore planned a slew of eye-catching moves in order to get the Owls back to the Championship as soon as possible after their painful defeat to Sunderland in the League One play-off semi-finals in May 2022.
Unsurprisingly, the fallen giants from South Yorkshire were once again regarded as immediate favourites for promotion, given the club’s stature and resources available – notwithstanding Chansiri’s presence in the boardroom – in comparison to a slew of its third-tier competitors.
This was also a big draw for Championship players in search of regular minutes, as Moore reshuffled his defensive department with recruits such as Akin Famewo, Michael Ihiekwe, and the loan signing of Mark McGuinness from Cardiff.
The Slough-born defender had previously been a product of Arsenal’s ‘Hale End’ academy program, and although appearing regularly for the Bluebirds in his debut season in South Wales, he was allowed to leave temporarily to further his development.
McGuinness made an immediate effect on the Wednesday defence, joining a squad that kept three clear sheets in his first four league outings, winning those games by a combined score of 10-0.
The former Republic of Ireland international continued to impress, scoring his solitary goal for the club in a close victory over Shrewsbury Town, with the club competing with Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town for automatic promotion.
As a result of his outstanding performances, it appeared inevitable that he would be recalled by Cardiff after only six months, and that happened after the centre-back played a major role in a surprise 2-1 FA Cup Third Round victory over Newcastle United at Hillsborough.
Mark McGuinness’ Sheffield Wednesday legacy has already been tainted by his move to Sheffield United.
Those in S6 were instantly aware of McGuinness’s potential, which was later confirmed when Luton Town agreed to pay £10 million for his services after continuing his upward trajectory in South Wales in the 2023/24 season.
However, just a year after coming to Kenilworth Road after the Hatters’ quick relegation from the Premier League to League One, the former Hillsborough favourite has partly soiled his image among supporters by signing a four-year contract with Sheffield United on Deadline Day.
Despite the fact that it remains to be seen whether McGuinness will play regularly at Bramall Lane due to the sheer number of defensive counterparts, it is no surprise that the main talking point surrounding this deal has been his move across the Steel City divide, with the centre-back also commenting on the situation.
“I consider it nearly inconsequential. I enjoy being connected with every club I visit, feeling close to the fans, and everything. That is something I will continue to do and love. But my career comes first, which is why I’m making this move.
The aforementioned words will sting Owls supporters even more during this uncertain period, and they will undoubtedly express their views towards him when the Steel City Derby returns later in the season.
Leave a Reply