Sheffield Wednesday: Carlos Carvalhal update causes mixed fan reaction amid Middlesbrough boycott plan | OneFootball

The ex-Wednesday boss is set to return to S6 for the upcoming clash with Middlesbrough

Former Sheffield Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal is set to make an emotional return to Hillsborough for the upcoming midweek clash against Middlesbrough in S6.

However, it's fair to say that a social media update from the Portuguese has caused a mixed reaction among Wednesdayites with a major boycott of this Championship fixture set to take place in protest against the club's controversial owner, Dejphon Chansiri.

The Owls currently find themselves bottom of the second tier standings following a 2-1 away defeat to Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon, which came just days after off-pitch woes at Hillsborough only increased for Henrik Pedersen, his threadbare squad, staff and supporters of the Steel City outfit.

At present, the club remains in takeover limbo as several high-profile bidders remain interested in relinquishing Chansiri's control, with the Thai businessman now spending over 10 years in power at Hillsborough - a reign which began just months before the aforementioned Carvalhal was instilled in the hotseat in the summer of 2015 as the owner's first managerial appointment since buying the club for £30m from the late Milan Mandaric.

Wednesday's plight has been well-documented by local, national and global media outlets ever since initial rumblings of discontent came to the fore back in early April, with a serious chain of events - such as delayed wage payments - leading to a mass exodus of senior players and ex-manager, Danny Rohl, being hit with several transfer or registration-related embargoes across the summer and during the current campaign, as well as the potential of a winding-up petition from HMRC due to an unpaid £1m tax bill.

As such, supporters are choosing to, once again, vote with their feet for the upcoming fixture, with Carvahal's return not enough to see a decision reverted.

During a two-and-a-half year stint in South Yorkshire, Carvalhal became the closest figure in the Hillsborough hotseat when it came to ending Wednesday's lengthy exile from the Premier League.

In his first season, the Owls reached the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, with said run including a standout 3-0 win over Arsenal, as well as reaching the play-off final, where his side would come unstuck against a vastly-experienced Hull City outfit.

Wednesday would assert themselves as potential promotion material once again in 2016/17, but fell short in the play-offs once more, this time on penalties to fellow Yorkshire rivals and eventual promotion winners, Huddersfield Town.

The 59-year-old was then dismissed in December 2017 after an extremely underwhelming start to the 2017/18 campaign. However, it's clear that the man who brought the likes of modern-day icon and current captain, Barry Bannan, to the club, is still held in very high regard.

As such, the Braga-born figure is finally hoping to say thank you to Wednesday's loyal fanbase as they take on Rob Edwards' Boro side, as he stated via X: "After many years I will back to Hillsborough :) I will be one more to support the boys in the game SWFC vs Boro next Wednesday"

"Looking forward to see(ing) all my friends," Carvalhal added.

As previously mentioned, though, there is a planned boycott of this encounter organised by the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust, who are urging fellow supporters to watch the encounter in local bars and social clubs, having done the same for EFL Cup ties against Leeds United and Grimsby Town.

As such, one supporter has looked to make Carvalhal aware of this, reiterating the point of the 'Black and gold until its sold' campaign.

Another Wednesdayite believes Carvalhal should be invited to wherever the trust are viewing the game within the local community.

One fan clearly still has a lot of respect for the Portuguese boss, and believes that should be reciprocated by a decision not to attend and stand with the long-suffering supporters.

Another supporter has urged Carvalhal to hold out until next Saturday's home clash against Norwich City in order to mark his Hillsborough return due to the midweek boycott.

Another Wednesday fan believes that only a full stadium would befit the reception Carvalhal would receive, instead believing that the aforementioned plans are part of a publicity stunt to entice some supporters to attend the Middlesbrough game.

A near-empty Hillsborough would make Carlos Carvalhal fully aware of Sheffield Wednesday's dire straits

Carvalhal was in charge when the famous stadium played host to some remarkable and high-profile matches that were certainly worthy of a high-quality atmosphere.

Therefore, seeing the vast majority of people inside Hillsborough supporting the division's second-place team over the Owls will only hammer home to the ex-Wednesday boss how far the club has fallen in such a short period of time.

This isn't, of course, the lowest the Owls have been in terms of league position since his exit, with that coming through a fourth-place finish in League One in 2021/22, with the club suffering a 12-point deduction the previous season after breaching spending regulations.

Another points penalty is expected this term as a result of the aforementioned long list of issues that have made Wednesday a 'crisis club', whilst its immediate future very much remains up in the air.