EFL's Sheffield Wednesday decision will only further frustrate supporters after difficult period

Sheffield Wednesday striker Lee Gregory and Darren Moore have been nominated for the League One player and manager of the month awards for April. Gregory scored seven of the Owls' 14 goals in the month to help fire Wednesday into the play-offs.

Gregory, who also registered in the second leg of their League One play-off defeat to Sunderland, will have to fend off competition from Black Cats forward Nathan Broadhead, Wigan Athletic's Will Keane and Milton Keynes Dons star Scott Twine to land the prize. The 33-year-old has established himself as a firm fans' favourite at Hillsborough, hitting 17 goals in 39 appearances since arriving on a free transfer.

Moore has been shortlisted for the manager gong after the Owls collected 16 points from seven matches. Wednesday recorded thrilling 3-2 wins at Milton Keynes Dons and Fleetwood Town en route to securing a top-six finish. Their only defeat came at Wycombe Wanderers.

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Morecambe's Derek Adams, Wycombe's Gareth Ainsworth and Sunderland's Alex Neil are also in the running for the award. All winners will be announced on Friday.

The Owls face another year in the third tier after losing 2-1 on aggregate to the Black Cats over two legs. Some Owls players had tears in their eyes at the final whistle and Moore was visibly upset as he completed his post-match media duties.

“They (the players) were gutted," said Moore. "Absolutely gutted.

“There was a great belief, you could see that belief and energy in the place.

“For me to talk and say much now, it doesn’t really carry much weight because you could just feel that disappointment. What you have to do is let that disappointment settle in and go