Sheffield Wednesday must refocus quickly after shock exits says Joe Wildsmith

Fernando Forestieri, Morgan Fox and Steven Fletcher have rejected new deals, and look to set to join released duo Sam Hutchinson and Sam Winnall who will depart Hillsborough on June 30.

It is understood Forestieri, Fox and top scorer Fletcher were offered new contracts on reduced terms - the Owls, like most clubs dealing with the financial impact of coronavirus, want to cut their wages bill this summer - but declined to sign.

Loan defender David Bates will return to parent club Hamburg next week, while talks are ongoing to extend the loans of Alessio Da Cruz, Jacob Murphy, Connor Wickham and Josh Windass.

It means Garry Monk will have a depleted squad as Wednesday look to navigate the final eight games of the Championship season, starting with Sunday’s trip to Bristol City.

“It’s a shock that they are leaving,” said Owls goalkeeper Wildsmith. “Morgan has trained this morning and everything has been fine, nothing has been said.

“Obviously, Steven picked up an injury on Saturday. But we will move on and just focus on the football. We can’t do anything about those guys leaving. That’s their decisions, and they have made them.

“We just have to focus on Bristol City on Sunday now, and hopefully getting a good result down there. A lot of the boys have been at the club for a long time, the guys who are said to be leaving.

“You don’t leave a club with no feelings. If it is their last game, it’s a tough time for them, but I am sure they will move on to whatever they need to do in the future.

“We will just focus on getting as many points as possible from the remaining games.”

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