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Stability the key for Laws as he signs on for two more years
IT DOESN'T worry Brian Laws that his predecessor, Paul Sturrock, was sacked five weeks after signing a new contract.
The Owls manager said, with a smile: "If I had dwelt on what had gone on in the past, I wouldn't have come here in the first place!
"So many managers came and went in a short space of time."
But he will soon surpass Sturrock's service to become the club's longest-serving Hillsborough manager in 11 years, with a reign of just over two years, and Laws and the club are confident that his contract to 2011 represents an era of stability.
"I'm pleased it's all sorted out," said the Owls manager.
"I'd like to thank the board and the chief executive for not only dealing with it quickly but also addressing the issues we talked about."
Laws had indicated that he wanted assurances on the future direction of the club.
"The main thing is stability," he added. "From the outset, I came here to try to take Sheffield Wednesday as high as I possibly could and to try to get them into the top league.
"I know things have changed since I first came but we are working very strongly and trying to be progressive.
"I know the club are looking for new investment - that's plan A. If that doesn't work out, plan B is that we are looking to strengthen, regroup and look forward.
"There are things in place. We are not falling apart. The club is running really well."
Laws said that plan B was "workable".
He said he enjoyed working with the players - "a good bunch of lads" - and wanted to keep a consistency flowing through the club and to maintain a rapport with the supporters.
"I believe the club are really looking for new investment. It's important they are given the time to do it. It's not an easy process. We all realise that.," he said.
"Consistency is the important thing. We also have to try to keep that consistency between supporters and ourselves."
Laws also said: "The board believe that I'm doing the right job. I wanted that support. They have given me that support. That's why I wanted to stay."
Chief executive Kaven Walker said he was very pleased.
"We have had Brian for two years; hopefully he'll be here for another two years, and hopefully take us to the Premier League. That's what Brian wants. That's what we want," he said.
Walker, who revealed in The Star on Tuesday that he hoped a deal would be clinched by the end of this week, said that the matter of getting Laws signed up had been dealt with very quickly.
The issue was discussed at the board meeting a week last Monday, and a process was agreed with the manager whereby talks would be placed on hold until after the games against Coventry and Blackpool.
Several players have contracts that, like Laws', run out next summer, but Walker said that the board wanted to sort out the manager's future before getting on to the players.
The club are continuing talks with potential investors.
Geoff Sheard - already written off by fan group Wednesdayite - is not among them and has never made an offer for the whole club.
Walker said: "I have not spoken to Geoff Sheard for around five weeks.
"I don't think he has spoken to anybody recently; I think you can draw your own conclusions from that. Personally, I think that's dead. That's my view"
Wednesdayite recently submitted to the club an 11-page document of ideas.
Walker said he would rather not discuss that until after a meeting with the fan organisation, which was due to be held in the near future.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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