Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen admitted after his side’s 2-0 home defeat to Birmingham that the uncertainty over the club’s future was affecting his players.
The Owls set an unwanted club record of 21 league games without a win after late goals from Marvin Ducksch and Kyogo Furuhashi secured Birmingham their first league win on the road since October.
Wednesday’s winless run is also the longest in the Championship era, while they are still waiting to learn who their new owners will be after being placed in administration in October and docked 18 points in total.
Pedersen, whose threadbare squad has been shorn of 14 injured players, said: “I have not got any information since we spoke (post-match) on Saturday, so I know everything is by the EFL, and it can take some time before they’ll come from there.”
He added: “I think, for all human beings who don’t know what’s happening in the future, there is a question in your head.
“And when you have a question in your head, you’re thinking a lot, and we all know that the best performances are when you are in the moment.
“But how the players can put all this to the side and just perform, it’s amazing. But they are also really well trained in this, because there has been a lot.”
Speculation is mounting the cash-strapped Owls will sell some of their key players before the January transfer window closes, including captain Barry Bannan.
“I hope Barry will stay, of course,” Pedersen said. “We speak every day, and of course, we’re also speaking about his situation, our situation, and let’s see what happens. I hope he will stay here.”
A consortium led by sports analytics businessman James Bord was reportedly chosen by the club’s administrators as preferred bidder last month, while another interested party, former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, is waiting in the wings.
Birmingham boss Chris Davies paid tribute to the club’s travelling fans after his side sealed their first league win on the road since a 1-0 victory at Preston on October 21.
Davies said: “I thought we fully deserved it, the chances we had, and it’s really nice to win a game away from home.
“The most important thing for me as a football manager is the fans. They travel on the road, they do a lot of travelling and they support us as well as any team in the league away from home.
“It’s so nice to give them that to go home with tonight because they’re in their numbers once again, loud, supporting the team. We deserved that win.”
Japan striker Furuhashi marked his 31st birthday with his first league goal for the Blues.
Davies added: “Everyone’s really pleased for Kyogo. You couldn’t ask for a better professional. He’s gives his all every day. He’s a humble lad and we’re very pleased for him.”
