Sheffield Wednesday have been told what they need to do to reach the Premier League by 2026.
Sheffield Wednesday have been on the cusp of relegation for most of the campaign, however a brilliant run of form in recent weeks has pushed them three points above the bottom three.
The Owls now need one point from the final day of the season to confirm their place in the Championship, having been promoted this time last year.
It has been a turbulent few years for Wednesday, having reached the play-offs in back-to-back seasons between 2015 and 2017.
However, things went downhill from there and they failed to finish above 12th place before they eventually ended the 2021/22 season glued to the bottom of the table.
Their return this term has been far from what they had hoped for, but managing to avoid the drop this weekend could give them a real glimmer of hope for next year.
The arrival of Danny Rohl has been miraculous for the club and, while his future remains unclear, the Owls have been told the German is good enough to take them to the Premier League.
‘Fantastic’ Danny Rohl can reach the Premier League
Speaking to Football League World, former midfielder Carlton Palmer said: “I think Sheffield Wednesday are almost certain to be in the Championship next season and you can’t argue the job that Danny Rohl has done at the club has been fantastic, so, what (Dejphon) Chansiri has got to do, I mean Danny Rohl has already come out and you can see he is determined and he knows what he needs.
“When you look at the way Sheffield Wednesday have performed, you look at their last six games and the teams that they have played, they’ve only lost once against good opposition.
“If you take that into next season, they can propel themselves next season into challenging for the play-offs. Danny Rohl will want things but in place.
“He’s come out and said it’s not going to take a lot, but things are going to have to change in the dressing room, the training ground and those little things he wants implementing to put things right.
“Chanisiri can’t afford to get this wrong, because Danny Rohl is going to be coveted once this season finishes at there will be teams who want Danny Rohl.”
He added: “But Sheffield Wednesday is a massive club, hugely supported so Chansiri needs to sti down with him, and I know Danny Rohl may have to have a concession with some things, but as long as the chairman meets him halfway and backs him, I think Sheffield Wednesday have a manager that can take them back to the Premier League in two seasons.
“If he’s backed by Chansiri and lets him do the job and recruits the players, I can see Sheffield Wednesday getting promoted in the next two seasons.”
Sheffield Wednesday will never get there without him though
Sheffield Wednesday looked down and out six months ago, but Danny Rohl has transformed them into a team with so much potential.
Half of their team are out of contract this summer, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if they can keep hold of the key players and offload the dead wood.
Rohl’s eye for talent is clear after signing Ike Ugbo, James Beadle and Ian Poveda in January, so he can certainly be trusted to build a strong team over the next few windows.
The relationship Rohl has with the players is pivotal, and he seems to be able to make them play a certain way just by telling them they can.
Wednesday could certainly reach the Premier League in the near future, but they could also go the complete opposite direction if Rohl leaves.