Sheffield Wednesday get their Coca Cola Championship campaign underway against Barnsley at Hillsborough this coming Saturday and there has certainly been an improved mood amongst the majority of Owls fans this summer compared to recent previous pre-seasons.
Season ticket sales may not have reached the figures that the club had ambitiously hoped for but they are up significantly on the previous season and replica shirts are selling like the proverbial hot cakes.
Ticketing systems have been overhauled and although there have been a few teething problems generally this appears to be another positive move and the Owls fans can look forward to new catering within the ground on Saturday.
These changes are all great and will help to improve the atmosphere at home games next season but the main aspect that will get the fans behind the club on match-day is the quality on the pitch.
As with the off-field elements, this also appears to be looking better thanks to a few additions and some key injury returns.
The injury to Sodje so close to kick-off is obviously a blow but Wednesday have had to manage without him in the past and there are still good options available.
The signings of Purse, Gray, Miller and Potter are sure to improve the team and create healthy competition for players. Potter and Gray showed what they are capable of during their loan spells at Hillsborough last season while Purse and Miller have plenty of experience and have been successful at this level.
The return to fitness of Frank Simek will also be a major boost. His recovery from injury has been a slow process but if he can return to the form he showed before the major setback in December 2007 then he would be an asset to most sides in the Championship.
The Owls will also be hoping to get more games out of tricky winger Etienne Esajas. The Dutchman provided more assists than any other Wednesday player last season despite featuring less than half of the games and he has looked lively during pre-season.
Wednesday have also managed to keep hold of their top performers and so all these elements suggest that an improvement on last season’s respectable mid-table finish should be within the Owls grasp.