Sheffield Wednesday are considering Notts County head coach Martin Paterson as they look for a permanent replacement for Henrik Pedersen. According to a report first published by the Daily Mail and covered by The72’s report on Sheffield Wednesday’s managerial search, the 39-year-old is among the candidates being discussed at Hillsborough.
At this stage, Paterson is only under internal consideration. There is no indication that Wednesday have approached him directly or contacted Notts County for permission to speak with him. Prying him away from Meadow Lane would also be complicated, as he signed a new contract with his current club in September.
How the Hillsborough vacancy opened up
Wednesday began searching for a new head coach on 25 October after parting ways with Pedersen. The Dane was dismissed following consecutive 2-0 away defeats in League One against Notts County on 20 October and Doncaster Rovers.
Those losses came immediately after a nine-match unbeaten run. Despite that positive spell, sporting director Simon Wilson explained that the team had not made enough progress toward playing with a clear identity and greater consistency.
Matt Hamshaw stepped in as interim boss and oversaw a 1-1 home draw against Cambridge United on 27 October. He is expected to remain in the dugout when Blackpool visit Hillsborough on Sunday, 1 November. While Hamshaw has said he wants to be part of the club’s future, he accepts that the board will make the final call as they focus on hiring a permanent manager.
Paterson’s track record in the dugout
Paterson has built a strong reputation since taking charge of Notts County in June 2025. In his first full season at Meadow Lane, the Northern Irishman guided the Magpies back to the third tier for the first time in 11 years.
Notts sealed promotion from League Two on 25 May with a 3-0 win over Salford City in the play-off final at Wembley, with Alassana Jatta, Lucas Ness and Jodi Jones scoring the goals. According to figures from The72, Paterson has recorded 31 wins, 16 draws and 21 defeats across 68 matches in all competitions, giving him a win rate of around 46 per cent.
Before arriving in Nottingham, Paterson took over at Burton Albion in January 2024 and kept them in League One before departing after five months. His background also includes a spell on Huddersfield Town’s coaching staff, assistant coaching roles in the United States, and time working as an assistant to Michael Duff at both Barnsley and Swansea City.
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For Wednesday, Paterson represents a young coach who knows English football and has already proven he can organise a squad for a promotion push. However, his current challenge is establishing Notts in League One, and he has yet to manage over an extended period at a club matching Wednesday’s size and expectations.
Contract hurdles and League One rivalry
Any attempt to bring Paterson to South Yorkshire would test Notts County’s resolve. His September contract extension ties him to Meadow Lane until June 2029 and served as a clear backing from club owners Chris and Alex Reedtz.
As covered in the Hucknall Dispatch’s report on Paterson’s contract extension, the Reedtz brothers praised their working relationship with the head coach, highlighting his high standards on the training pitch, thorough match preparation and the ambitious culture he has fostered within the football department.
Paterson has also spoken warmly about his bond with the club, though those comments were made prior to the Sheffield Wednesday links rather than in response to them.
With nearly three years left on his deal, Notts would be in a strong position to demand compensation unless his contract includes an undisclosed release clause. No details regarding a release provision or a potential buyout figure have been made public. Because both clubs are competing in League One, losing a promotion-winning coach to a divisional rival they defeated just days ago would be a major blow for the Magpies.
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Dave Challinor remains the frontrunner
Financial realities at Hillsborough could ultimately push Wednesday toward another option. The Owls are operating under financial restrictions following recent ownership and administration problems, meaning the added cost of buying a manager out of a long-term contract is a significant factor.
That context helps explain why the Yorkshire Post’s coverage of the Sheffield Wednesday vacancy identified Dave Challinor as the early favourite for the job. Unlike Paterson, Challinor is unattached after leaving Stockport County in June and would not require a compensation fee.
Challinor boasts a proven track record of promotions with AFC Fylde, Hartlepool United and Stockport. Crucially, he already has a working relationship with Wednesday sporting director Simon Wilson from their time together at Stockport, where they took the club from the National League to League One.
Talks regarding Challinor have reportedly progressed, though Wednesday had not announced an appointment by Friday, 30 October. Until the club either finalises a deal with their leading target or makes an official approach to Meadow Lane, Paterson’s link to the Hillsborough job remains unconfirmed speculation.
