Irvine targets automatic promotion for Sheff Wed

Boss Alan Irvine is out to right the wrongs of Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation last campaign as he seeks automatic promotion from League One.

Wednesday currently top League One following an undefeated start to the season, but the Owls boss admits that he still has not quite recovered from the disappointment of last season.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I'm still not over what happened. I don't know if I ever will be. Every time I think about it, it's so painful.

"It has never happened to me before and I just don't know when the feeling will dissipate. But what I'm doing is using it as motivation.

"I went away on two holidays in the summer and spent them on the phone signing new players. I was obsessed with putting things right.

"It was my way of coping with things.

"Only time will tell if it has made me a better manager, but I'd like to think something good can come out of it. I was already very focused and driven before, but I'm even more so now.

"I realise we are in League One to be shot at now - like Leeds were for three seasons and Newcastle in the Championship.

"But this is the challenge we have to overcome.

"Now I just want to give the fans some success. This club has huge tradition and history, but recent history hasn't been good and I want to change that."