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New duo take Owls top jobs
SHEFFIELD Wednesday today named Lee Strafford as chairman and his fellow new director Nick Parker as chief executive.
The club also announced that attempts to bring in new investment are "on schedule."
It confirms the start of a new era at Hillsborough since Strafford and Parker joined the board three weeks ago and the club set a target deadline of March 31 for new investment.
The club said last month that it was envisaged the appointment of Stafford and Parker to the board would be until March 31 but now it is clear that they are staying for the long-term future - hopefully backed by the new funds that the Owls are trying to secure from an unknown syndicate.
Stafford said it was an honour to become chairman, and he and Parker were committed to delivering a brighter future for the club.
Today's announcement to the London Stock Exchange says that "discussions on securing new investment for the company currently remain on schedule.
"To assist in the investment process further and ensure the continued delivery of the club's business plan following the investment exercise, the board is also pleased to announce the following key appointments, with immediate effect: "Lee Strafford, 36, who joined the board in December, will become the company's chairman. He has been instrumental in the development of the business plan and investment search and will now lead the delivery process.
"Nick Parker, 48, who also joined the board in December will become the company's chief executive officer.
"Nick has been central to the investment process and will work with Lee and the rest of the board to deliver the investment and the business plan both in the short term and thereafter.
"These appointments will provide a clear leadership structure for the company and its stakeholders as well as certainty over its future direction."
Strafford is the club's first chairman since Dave Allen quit just more than a year ago.
The new chief, a Wednesday fan as well as a successful entrepreneur, said: "It is a great honour to become chairman of such a prestigious club.
"Both Nick and I joined the board to secure new investment and deliver positive operational changes into the club. This remains our central focus and we are happy with the progress. "We are both committed to delivering a brighter future for Wednesday."
Parker last week took on a greater role in the day-to-day running of the club after the Owls and chief executive Kaven Walker parted company by mutual consent.
Manager Brian Laws, who has already been working with the new regime, is trying to make a loan signing in time for Saturday's match at Ipswich - with an experienced midfield player probably his priority.
Laws confirmed that James O'Connor is now banned for one game, on top of a small squad's injury problems and with midfielder Jimmy Smith's loan from Chelsea running out at the end of this week.
"I'm working extremely hard to try to make things happen by the weekend," said Laws, who was already concerned about his midfield options even before O'Connor received his fifth yellow card, against Fulham.
"But we are in a chain," added the Owls boss. "Clubs we are talking to are waiting to bring in players before they will released theirs. If one deal falls they all fall.
"It could be that things will drag on to the end of January, as they did last year.
It's frustrating, it's madness, but we're not panicking and just taking anyone. We are a very young side, so I am looking at targets with experience."
Laws admitted that midfield is high on his list but added that other areas are under scrutiny, and said that the Bartosz Slusarski issue has yet to resolved. He went back to West Brom after the end of his loan
last week with Wednesday hoping he may return.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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