The help Sheffield Wednesday have received from the FA amid Covid-19 difficulties as Andy Holdsworth takes charge

The Owls make the trip to Exeter City this weekend to take on the League Two side just days after it was confirmed that a raft of club figures, including caretaker boss Neil Thompson and his assistants Lee Bullen and Steve Haslam, had tested positive.

Though the identities of the players to have contracted the illness remain confidential, Wednesday are expected to name a much-changed squad, with academy boss Andy Holdsworth taking charge of the FA Cup tie.

Those travelling down will do so on three separate coaches in order to maintain safety protocols.

“We’ve had help from the FA,” said Thompson. “We go on two coaches anyway but we will be going on three coaches today. There will be lots of space on the coach, all the lads have been tested and they will be tested again this morning.

“We will make it as safe and secure as we can.”

Holdsworth is a relative unknown, though highly respected at Middlewood Road.

“He is a really good coach and lad,” Thompson said. “He has got a lot of good people around him. Daral Pugh has a wealth of experience in football. The Zoom calls we’ve had with everybody have been really productive.

“You have got to trust people. You have got to give them that trust, that authority and the autonomy to go and do what they need to do because that is how you grow.

“You put a framework in place and they have to go and run the game.

“I will obviously be watching the game and if I see anything there will always be someone on the end of a phone but they have got autonomy to do the game.”

Thompson was clear in explaining that he was unable to divulge information on which players had tested positive, but that he was confident they would be able to name a side good enough to get a result at St James Park.

“I think you will have to understand the delicacy of whoever is positive,” he said.

“We will have a team going out there that will be competitive and that will hopefully get the job done.”

MORE FROM OUR WEDNESDAY WRITING TEAM

What Neil Thompson said on Jordan Rhodes' reported move from Sheffield Wednesday to QPR

Who is Andy Holdsworth? Spotlight on the man set to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday in their FA Cup clash at Exeter City

Sheffield Wednesday can take note of Exeter City as they line up another seven-figure deal

*

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor