David Bruce poaches long-serving Sunderland figure at Sheffield Wednesday with ex-Burnley replacement installed
Oscar Chamberlain has already left Sunderland and is edging closer to a Sheffield Wednesday move
Former Sunderland chief operating officer David Bruce is closing in on a move for a long-serving Stadium of Light figure as Sheffield Wednesday’s off-field rebuild continues.
The Echo and its sister publication, the Sheffield Star, understand Oscar Chamberlain has already left his post at Sunderland and is edging closer to a move to Hillsborough, where he would reunite with Bruce following his own switch from Wearside.
Bruce left Sunderland earlier this year to become Sheffield Wednesday chief executive following the club’s takeover by American consortium Arise Capital Partners. The former Black Cats business chief is now helping lead a major rebuild at Hillsborough after years of instability under former chairman Dejphon Chansiri.
Chamberlain spent 12 years at Sunderland and was a key figure across the club’s branding, digital, marketing and communications operation during a period of huge change on Wearside. He led on several areas of Sunderland’s supporter-facing output, with some of that work winning awards during his time at the club.
His expected move to Sheffield Wednesday is understood to be into a slightly different and newly-created role, rather than as a direct replacement for long-serving head of communications Trevor Braithwait, who remains in post. The hire forms part of Wednesday’s wider effort to strengthen the club’s senior structure under Arise Capital Partners. Further appointments are expected across the club’s operation as the Owls look to build a more modern and developed infrastructure.
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Wednesday are preparing for life in League One next season and are also expected to confirm the arrival of former Sunderland and Stockport County figure Simon Wilson as sporting director. Wilson is believed to have already performed some outline duties amid early transfer discussions and contract talks with existing players ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer at Hillsborough.
For Sunderland, Chamberlain’s departure represents another notable change behind the scenes during a busy period at the Stadium of Light following the club’s historic seventh-placed finish in the Premier League and Europa League qualification. The Black Cats have appointed Ian Taylor, formerly of Burnley, as interim head of communications and are currently advertising for a full-time position.