It makes me as sad as all of you to be writing this statement with Sheffield Wednesday still a Championship club.
That is in no way meant with a hint of disrespect to the Championship because this division is one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the world.
But this season, we came within one match of reaching the Premier League, which is arguably the pinnacle of the game. So right now, I am hurting and so sorry that we could not take that final step and end our 16-year exile from the top flight.
But be assured of one thing – Sheffield Wednesday will be back. We will shake off this hurt, regroup over the summer and return with the intention of going all the way next season. And as your chairman, I pledge I will do everything I possibly can to ensure we do exactly that.
Because you, the fans, deserve to be in the Premier League. You are Premier League. Almost everyone who was at Wembley on Saturday came away talking more about what they saw off the pitch rather than on it.
I thought those scenes were incredible – I have never seen anything like it and neither have a lot of people who have been in football for many, many years. You are all a credit to yourselves and to our club and I would like to sincerely thank every single one of you for the truly remarkable way in which you supported the team.
Your backing all season was unrivalled and without that level of support, our journey would not have been possible, of that I am sure. On a personal note, you have all made myself, my family and friends so very welcome since I arrived at Sheffield Wednesday. This has helped so much in making us feel at home in our new city of Sheffield and once more, I say thank you.
Those scenes on Saturday will stay with me for a very long time and only increase my desire and total commitment to take us back to where the football world saw this club belongs – the Premier League.
I would also like to thanks Carlos, his coaching staff, all the players and all the staff at our club for their hard work and dedication over the course of the season. The fact that we came so close to achieving our dream was testament to the drive, passion and talent that we are fortunate to have here at Hillsborough.
We now need to harness those skills, re-focus all our efforts and ensure that together, on and off the pitch, we are ready to achieve what was denied us at Wembley but what I am sure you agree was still one of the most memorable occasions of our proud history.