Middlesbrough snub speaks volumes about Sheffield Wednesday and Danny Rohl: View | OneFootball

Max Lowe was convinced to join Wednesday by Röhl despite interest from Boro

Sheffield Wednesday fans will be expecting an improved 2024/25 campaign following a strong second-half of last season under boss Danny Röhl.

Röhl was able to guide the Owls to Championship safety following his arrival in October, and signed a new contract in May to extend his stay at Hillsborough until 2027.

He has already set his stall out ahead of a huge summer transfer window, with six first-team players released following the expiry of their current contracts, and Barry Bannan, Cameron Dawson, Di’Shon Bernard, Dominic Iorfa, Liam Palmer, Will Vaulks and Josh Windass all being offered new deals.

Rohl has also been active in the transfer market since the end of the season, with left-back Max Lowe set to join the Owls from cross-city rivals Sheffield United upon the expiry of his deal at Bramall Lane in July.

Lowe's fears over the controversial switch were reportedly quelled by Röhl, as he turned down the chance to move to Middlesbrough in favour of linking up with the 35-year-old next season.

His decision to join Wednesday, who finished 20th last season, over Boro, who came eighth, speaks volumes to the transformative impact that Röhl has had at Hillsborough - he is able to attract top second-tier players with his project and there is a clear belief that he can convert the Owls into a promotion-chasing side.

Lowe was convinced to move by Röhl

Lowe's move across Steel City enemy lines is a first for a senior player since 1951, and he is one of only three first team players to make the switch in the 135-year history of the two clubs' co-existence, according to Owls historian Jason Dickinson.

It is clearly not a change to be taken lightly, and the 27-year-old understandably had his concerns over the reaction of both sets of fans ahead of a potential contract offer from the Owls.

According to the Star, Lowe spoke to multiple Championship clubs when assessing his options, one of which was Middlesbrough, but a conversation with Röhl convinced him to forget any worries over the cross-city switch and sign on at S6.

On the face of it, a move to promotion-hopefuls like Michael Carrick's Boro would have made sense for a player like Lowe, who has proved himself as a top-end second-tier left-back after playing his part in successive promotions with Nottingham Forest in 2021/22 and then the Blades in 2022/23.

Wednesday, despite their bright end to the last campaign, are less likely to be challenging near the top of the Championship in 2024/25, but Röhl has clearly been able to convince Lowe of his plans for the future, with that good recent form a clear sign of things looking up at Hillsborough.

Röhl's Wednesday record speaks for itself

It is no coincidence that Lowe was won over by Röhl in the talks they held - he is clearly a top man-manager, as shown by the way he rejuvenated a shoddy Wednesday side that looked destined for a return to League One in October after Xisco Munoz failed to win any of his first ten games in charge before he was sacked.

The 35-year-old was a gamble that owner Dejphon Chansiri was willing to take, as he took on his first managerial role and became the youngest manager in the English Football League upon arrival.

His impact was not instant, but results soon came after he was given time to implement his style and Wednesday eventually stayed up by three points in 20th place after losing just three of their final 14 league games.

He also strayed away from his usual 4-3-3 in the second-half of the 2023/24 season to a formation that utilised wing-backs, to get the best out of Marvin Johnson, and will have identified Lowe as an ideal starter for that role that can defend well, but also likes to get forward and help out in the final third.

Röhl's stellar work has clearly not gone unnoticed by players and agents alike - the signing of Lowe is a statement as to the pull he possesses in the transfer market, and a good omen for Wednesday fans going into the new season and beyond.