A Sheffield Wednesday flop has sealed a permanent transfer to Blackpool in League One.
Sheffield Wednesday and their first-team squad are undergoing some drastic changes this summer.
The changes started off the pitch with Danny Rohl signing a new three-year deal, before the likes of Barry Bannan and Liam Palmer extended their stays.
Names such as Will Vaulks were offered new terms, along with several others per the club’s retained list, but the Welshman has since joined Oxford United.
Cameron Dawson is also backed to leave this summer, whilst there remains uncertainty over the future of Josh Windass, who’s also been offered a new contract.
Rohl is keen for January loan trio Ian Poveda, James Beadle, and Ike Ugbo to return this summer, whilst the rest of Sheffield Wednesday’s loan contingency from last season boasted mixed reviews.
Perhaps none more so than Ashley Fletcher; the striker reunited with his old Watford boss Xisco Munoz in S6 last summer, featuring 23 times in the Championship for the Owls, but failing to score.
Josh Windass message to Ashley Fletcher after Sheffield Wednesday loan
Fletcher, 28, was released by Watford shortly after the end of the season, and he’s since signed a two-year deal with Blackpool.
A former Manchester United youngster, Fletcher has endured a tough few years, scoring just four league goals in the last four seasons.
Now set to play in League One for the first time since a loan spell with Barnsley during the 2015/16 season, Fletcher will look to get his career back on track under Neil Critchley at Bloomfield Road.
After securing his move, Fletcher’s former Sheffield Wednesday teammate Windass posted this message on Instagram:
Will Ashley Fletcher be a good signing for Blackpool
Fletcher certainly looked as though he’d have to drop down the leagues after another misfire season in the Championship.
For Sheffield Wednesday, Fletcher played a back up role, often coming on late in games to simply chase the ball down.
At his best, Fletcher was able to unnerve opposition defenders with his physicality, but he never really showed any kind of threat on goal.
He’s proved prolific in the past in spells with Middlesbrough. Since scoring 11 goals in the 2019/20 Championship season, Fletcher has scored just eight goals in all competitions.
The Seasiders finished 8th last season and will want to challenge for top six again next time round, with departing Sheffield Wednesday man George Byers also in talks to sign for Blackpool.
Fletcher will hope that the drop down in leagues allows him to rediscover his scoring touch. But his form with Sheffield Wednesday may suggest that he faces an uphill battle to get back in firing form, regardless of what league he plays in.
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