Danny Rohl exit could be perfect timing for Sheffield Wednesday - Dejphon Chansiri should be thankful | OneFootball

Given the quality of managers currently on the market, Danny Rohl's departure could be coming at a good time for Sheffield Wednesday.

It is set to be a big summer of change at Sheffield Wednesday, but the club are stuck in something of a state of limbo until manager Danny Rohl's future is settled.

Wednesday emerged as surprise play-off contenders in the Championship following a strong first half of the season, but their promotion push collapsed after the turn of the year amid a decline in form and a host of off-field issues.

Despite that, the Owls did manage to secure a top-half finish, which represents significant progress after only narrowly avoiding relegation last season, but it is difficult to be too optimistic that the club will build on that next term.

With a number of senior players out of contract this summer, including the likes of Michael Ihiekwe, Marvin Johnson, Barry Bannan, Callum Paterson, Josh Windass and Michael Smith, a big rebuild could be on the cards at Hillsborough this summer, but the Wednesday faithful are still no clearer on who will be leading it at this stage.

Danny Rohl's Sheffield Wednesday future must be resolved quickly

While it is unknown who will be in charge of Wednesday next season, it is almost certain that Rohl will not be the man in the dugout.

Speculation over Rohl's future first emerged in December when he was linked with the vacant managerial position at Southampton, but a move to St Mary's did not materialise as the Saints were reportedly unwilling to meet his £4 million release clause.

That sparked a bitter public dispute between Rohl and owner Dejphon Chansiri, and the pair did not even communicate until the middle of January, which left the Owls scrambling around for last-minute deals in the final stages of the transfer window.

It was difficult to escape the feeling in the latter part of the season that Rohl's mind was elsewhere, and Southampton's interest in the German has not gone away, with the South Coast outfit said to have identified him as their top summer target after parting company with Ivan Juric following their relegation from the Premier League.

Rohl's compensation fee is believed to reduce to just £2 million for a Championship club, so the Saints may be in a much stronger position to strike a deal this time around, but they are not the only club keen on the 36-year-old, with Leicester City, RB Leipzig, Crystal Palace and Fulham all thought to be among his suitors.

Not long ago, the mere thought of Rohl leaving Hillsborough would have been devastating for Wednesday supporters, but a recent interview in which he openly discussed his possible next move has led to accusations of a lack of respect, with many feeling that such comments are inappropriate while he is still officially under contract, and a resolution is needed quickly to allow the club to move forward.

Of course, there is never a good time to lose a manager, and there is always the danger of making a mistake when appointing a replacement, particularly given Chansiri's track record, but the timing of Rohl's imminent departure may actually be perfect for the Owls.

Dejphon Chansiri may be relieved by Danny Rohl exit timing

Rohl may be burning his bridges with the Wednesday fan base on the way out of Hillsborough, but even his most ardent critic will admit that he is leaving big shoes to fill.

Finding a suitable replacement for Rohl will be no easy task for Chansiri, but the under-fire Owls chief may be grateful that there are plenty of quality coaches currently on the market, particularly after a string of managerial departures in the Championship.

Tony Mowbray developed a reputation as an excellent manager at second tier level during his spells at Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland, as well as being one of the most well-liked figures within the game, and while his recent spell at West Brom did not go to plan, he is certainly worthy of consideration by Wednesday this summer.

Johannes Hoff Thorup was dismissed by Norwich last month after an underwhelming stint at Carrow Road, but he could be an exciting choice for the Owls if they wish to embark on a new long-term project, while Marti Cifuentes, who is expected to leave QPR after being placed on gardening leave, has proven his credentials in the Championship during his time at Loftus Road.

Recently departed Watford manager Tom Cleverley would be a slightly more risky appointment, but he certainly showed enough potential at Vicarage Road to be deserving of another opportunity, and two more credible contenders could soon emerge if Middlesbrough's Michael Carrick and Hull City's Ruben Selles become available, with both thought to be facing the threat of the sack at their respective clubs.

If those options were not appealing enough for Wednesday, there are a host of strong candidates who have been out of work a little longer, and while Steve Cooper and Russell Martin may be slightly out of reach for the South Yorkshire outfit, the likes of David Wagner, Gary O'Neil, Rob Edwards and Gerhard Struber could all be realistic targets.

Of course, there is a chance that Chansiri could give the job to Rohl's assistant, Henrik Pedersen, but that would be an unnecessary gamble given his poor previous managerial record, and if he decides to focus his search externally, he almost cannot get it wrong with so many attractive options currently out there.