Ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker set for Owls return that fans are dubbing 'fantastic news' | OneFootball

A former Wednesday favourite is set to re-unite with his former club in a coaching capcity

The transformation of Sheffield Wednesday's fortunes in just a few months has been pretty impressive to say the very least since they were saved by Arise Capital Partners.

The American consortium is led by David Storch, who made his money within the aviation industry, and after they were passed over the first time around in favour of James Bord, Arise came back to the table after the poker player withdrew, and it led to a triumphant purchase just before the end of the 2025-26 season.

Storch was present at Hillsborough for the Owls' final Championship match against West Brom, in which they ran out winners, and having secured no points deduction for the 2026-27 League One campaign, the new Wednesday hierarchy have been getting to work with securing key personnel both on and off the pitch to move the South Yorkshire club forward.

Key individuals like David Bruce and Simon Wilson have been appointed to important roles, and the return of Barry Bannan from Millwall to lead Wednesday forward on the pitch has been added to with exciting deals for players like Louie Barry and Callum Slattery.

And the good news just keeps on coming, with another former Owls player returning to Hillsborough - this time though in a coaching capacity.

Sheffield Wednesday set to offer former number nine a key Owls role

According to Owls reporter Joe Crann, none other than Lee Gregory is being hired by Wednesday, with a job lined up for him in a coaching capacity below the first-team.

The former Wednesday striker - who was born in Sheffield - is set to work with the under-18s and under-21s, having previously helped out last season in a voluntary role.

Despite spending time with Sheffield United's academy in his teens, Gregory found his way to Wednesday at the back end of his career after rising through non-league to make it as an EFL forward as a 26-year-old for Millwall - he spent three years with the Owls, scored 17 times in his debut season and in 2022-23 he was part of their promotion-winning campaign.

Finishing his career on-pitch in 2025 with Mansfield Town, Gregory will now take up his first permanent coaching job, and it's a club that is very close to his heart which is where he will start his journey.

Lee Gregory decision is a no-brainer - and Sheffield Wednesday fans agree

Wednesday fans have been reacting to the news that Gregory is getting a full-time role with the club's under-age teams, with one believing that the younger strikers at the club won't have many better to learn from than him.

Another supporter thinks that more ex-Owls players should be handed coaching roles at the club as they get what being a Wednesday player is all about.

This Wednesday fan believes that Gregory is a club legend, and is delighted that he's back in S6.

The delight is seemingly unanimous throughout the fanbase, with this supporter believing Gregory's experience will benefit the under-18s squad especially.

Not all good players become good coaches, but this is a good starting point for Gregory in his coaching career.

The likes of Will Grainger may benefit a lot learning from an experienced former EFL striker like him, and perhaps even Charlie MacNeill and George Brown, despite both being slightly older, may also get good usage out of his expertise in the coming months and years.