Sheffield Wednesday have sacked head coach Henrik Pedersen after less than 15 months in charge following two League One defeats in five days.

Pedersen's final match was a 2-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in a South Yorkshire derby on Saturday, when fans called for the 48-year-old to leave after seeing their side concede twice inside the first 17 minutes.

Matt Hamshaw, who was sacked by Rotherham United after less than a year in charge last season before becoming a coach at Wednesday in August, has taken over on an interim basis and will oversee the visit of sixth-placed Cambridge United on Tuesday.

The Owls, who were relegated last season in record time after a desperate 2025-26 that was beset by financial problems, fan protests and an 18-point penalty, are currently eighth in the table, two points outside the play-off places after 11 games.

In a statement, Wednesday said Pedersen had provided "stability and leadership" during an "exceptional period in the club's history".

Sporting director Simon Wilson said the club had expected the start of the season to be "difficult" but offer "a recognisable style of play and greater consistency in our performances".

"Although we have accumulated points, we haven't seen enough progress in those areas," added Wilson.

"We believe making a change now gives us the best opportunity to establish those foundations and build towards the second half of the season and beyond."

Dane Pedersen also oversaw a 2-0 defeat at Notts County on Tuesday as part of a run of one win in six league matches, with Wednesday failing to score in four of those games.

Speaking after the defeat by Doncaster, Pedersen said he had heard chants directed against him by fans.

"I'm hurting like they are hurt," Pedersen told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"After zero points from two games, I'm not happy... nobody is happy.

"I'm sure we can bounce back and have a strong season."

Pederson, who had been predecessor Danny Rohl's assistant, signed a two-year contract to take over following the German's exit by mutual consent 12 days before the start of last season.

The Owls suffered the earliest relegation in EFL history in Pedersen's first campaign in charge in a chaotic season that saw fans boycotting matches and protests against then owner Dejphon Chansiri's running of the club that brought administration and an eventual 18-point penalty.

A 2-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion on the final day of last season was Wednesday's first in all competitions for seventh months as they finished with two victories, 32 defeats and a goal difference of -60 in the Championship.

Chansiri's reign officially ended in May with the takeover of the club by US consortium Arise Capital Partners.

Pedersen won four of his first five league matches this season including a 7-2 home victory over Bromley, but Wednesday's untimely loss of momentum has seen them slip out of the top six and cost Pedersen his job.

Rob Staton, BBC Radio Sheffield.

The writing was on the wall once the fans turned at Notts County and Doncaster Rovers. Repeated chants of 'We want Henrik out' rang around the stadium.

Saturday could not have gone much worse for Pedersen.

The Owls boss switched to a 3-5-2 formation, which raised eyebrows. It wasn't so much the change of shape as the personnel being used.

Kieran Morrison is clearly a talented attacking winger. That's why he's on the books with Liverpool. Yet nobody who's watched him would say he's strong defensively at this stage in his career.

Yet here he was being asked to play as a left wing-back - a totally unnatural fit.

You can sort of understand why Wednesday wanted to give it a go. Morrison's attacking skill at least gave the Owls a chance to hurt Doncaster if he could get forward.

It didn't work at all. After just 20 minutes they were 2-0 down and Pedersen had already bailed on the idea, returning to a back four.

It was an awful look to make such a bold tactical call and be forced to abandon it before a quarter of the game had passed.

Wednesday were limp and lifeless in the first half. We've seen this too often — against Doncaster, Notts County, Huddersfield and Stockport. I would also include Salford in the EFL Trophy. Yes, Wednesday made some changes. Salford made eleven. And the Owls didn't lay a glove on them in the first 45 minutes.

That Wednesday were capable of creating the chances they did in the second half on Saturday almost makes it worse. They have the talent to turn it on. So why, too often, do they find it so hard to play well from the start?

The club's new owners wanted to give Pedersen a chance. They did — but have acted decisively in opting to make a change.

Now their challenge is to get their first appointment right.