It took a 4-1 win against Norwich on the last day of the season to ensure that they avoided relegation at the cost of Leicester City and speculation about their ownership has been rife throughout the summer and at the beginning of the new season.

Despite heavy defeats to high-flying Wolves, who wounded the Owls' pride with a convincing 4-1 victory and Reading, who subjected Wednesday to a 6-0 bludgeoning two weeks ago, club captain Steve Watson believes that the club have made massive improvements over last season's poor showing.

"I think compared to last season the start's been brilliant," he said.
"But we're still disappointed with certain things, such as the loss against Wolves when they came from behind while the Reading match speaks for itself as far as how bad that was.

"Maybe we could have gone to Preston (which finished 1-1) and won, but overall, we're mid-table so we're fairly pleased.

"We can go into the next few games looking to pick up points, and then the international break gives us a chance to heal some of the injuries we have so we're satisfied, but we can still improve."

The break couldn't come at a better time for Wednesday, falling as it does right before the big derby clash with Sheffield United at Hillsborough on October 19.

With not a lot separating the Owls and the Blades this season, the derby games may be the biggest events of the season for both sets of fans – and for 34-year-old Watson too.

"I played last year in the derby match at Bramall Lane and it was a great night," he said.

"It was one of the best derbies I've played in and I feel as though we could have held on for the three points if James Beattie hadn't popped up and put the ball in the top corner with a world-class goal.

"But we got four points from the derbies last year which was brilliant."

The match will have an extra edge for the versatile Watson, who only managed to make it onto the bench for the Hillsborough clash last season as he was recovering from an injury.

But his role as club captain doesn't involve leading the side out, a task that falls to defender and team captain Richard Wood, who has Watson's blessing for the role.

Watson said: "Woody still plays nearly all the games and he's a fixture in the team and he's done well, so I'm not surprised he's got the armband.

"I think they've given me the club captaincy because Woody is still quite young for a captain and it eases a bit of the pressure on him for certain things.

"As club captain I'm basically the link between the manager and the players and the board.

"I entertain the FA and I organise meals for the players.
"Besides, at my age I've no need for an armband for me to rally the players around.

"Being named club captain is a great honour and I've no problem with Woody having the armband."

Having such a high-profile position at the club is the cherry on top of Watson's career, which has spanned 18 years and five clubs.
"I think the highlight would have to be my debut for Newcastle when I was 16," he said.

"I was their youngest ever player (a title he still holds) and it was my home-town team, so that's one of the most special things that any footballer can have.

"Then we got promoted to the top flight under Kevin Keegan. we played in the Champions League, we got to the FA Cup final and things went really well. For the lows you have to say relegations and injuries – the same as any footballer, really.

"It's fantastic when it's going well, but when it's going badly it's not so good.

"Getting relegated with West Brom was a bitter pill to swallow and during my second year at Villa I was on the bench a lot and not playing much. It wasn't the happiest time.

"But on balance I'm very happy with my career overall."

The only question that remains for Watson is where he goes from here.
He said: "The last couple of years I've struggled with injuries so I'm just concentrating on getting through this season.

"Come April I'll be 35 and at my age I'm not fooling myself that I've got a lot left to do in football.

"So I'm just trying to stay fit and get 30 games under my belt this season and then see where that takes me."