Source: PA
Strafford sorry after Owls drop
Sheffield Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford has apologised to Owls fans following the club's relegation to Coca-Cola League One.
Wednesday were condemned to a return to the third tier of English football for the second time in five years after the point gained from Sunday's 2-2 draw in the relegation decider with Crystal Palace was not enough to keep them up.
Strafford, appointed chairman in January 2009, said: "Everybody at Sheffield Wednesday is massively disappointed to have been relegated from the Championship and tens of thousands of Wednesdayites will be hurting right now.
"I must say that I am sorry this has happened on our watch and I'd also like to stress that missing the opportunity for Sheffield Wednesday to compete in the Championship next season has been a deflating experience for me personally and for all staff at the club."
Strafford, who thanked manager Alan Irvine for his efforts since arriving at Hillsborough in January, added: "It is vital that supporters understand that we're in a much better position to operate successfully in League One now than when we were previously relegated from the Championship in 2003.
"(Promotion) will not be an easy task and nobody here is under any illusions in that respect. To meet this challenge a full review from top to bottom at the club will be carried out to identify who is ready for the task ahead."
