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Sheffield Wednesday face anxious wait
BRIAN Laws began loan deadline day with mixed emotions today – hopeful of landing two players but worried about losing them to late bids by rival clubs.
The Owls manager has been trying to conduct his moves in strictest confidence until deals are done.
Last season Alan Lee was on his way to Sheffield by road to complete a loan move from Crystal Palace but after a late intervention from Norwich he did a U-turn and went there instead.
Recently, Laws has contacted every Premier League club, plus other managers, in a long and complicated search where he has had to negotiate hard with the limited amount of money he has available for wages.
Even in the last 48 hours he has lost out on a player when the player decided to stay where he was.
Laws has also been worried that if rivals get to know his targets then he could be outbid by clubs capable of paying to the lending club a bigger slice of the player's wages than that agreed so far with him.
But today he was still hoping to sign a midfield player from a top-flight club who can play in the centre or out wide, and a striker from a Championship outfit, before the 5pm deadline.
The Owls have cashed in on Richard Wood and have let Akpo Sodje go out on loan to get games. It also looks almost certain that Tommy Miller will miss Saturday's big match against West Brom because of his hamstring injury.
Laws said: "We're down to 19 players, and that includes three goalkeepers. I have been pushing hard to get a couple of players in, to give us strength in depth and competition."
Speculation has included Stoke midfield man Tom Soares, Leicester striker DJ Campbell and, in his native Northern Ireland, Cardiff forward Warren Feeney.
- Sheffield Wednesday are urging youngsters to study sport in an innovative new learning scheme.
Wednesday Community Programme has joined forces with Luis Michael Training and Sparsholt College to set up the Apprenticeship in Sports Leadership qualification.
The course, which will take place over 26 weeks, is a recognised sports qualification and Owls supporters can enroll in the initiative from December 5.
The project is open to anyone aged 16, 17 and 18 who is not in full-time education. Enrolment is 11am-2pm and those who register will be treated to lunch and will receive a ticket for the Reading match that day.
Alternatively, call 0114 2212215 or email community@sheffieldwednesday.com
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
