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New role allows Wilkinson to make his return to Sheffield Wednesday
HOWARD WILKINSON is returning to Sheffield Wednesday as a non-paid football advisor to the club's new board.
Click here to read about Wilkinson's love affair with Wednesday.
The former Owls manager, who is now chairman of the League Managers' Association, was approached by Lee Strafford, the club's newly-appointed chairman.
Wilkinson said: "I am very pleased to be working with Sheffield Wednesday in a formal capacity once again and I am keen to help Lee and the club's board implement changes which will see the Owls flourish again.
"In modern football it is essential for clubs to support their staff and players in every way they can so that the management team can maximise their chances of success on the pitch."
Manager Brian Laws welcomed the news saying Wilkinson's 'wealth of knowledge' would be invaluable in taking the club forward.
It will be the first time in over 20 years that Wilkinson has been employed in any capacity by the Owls but his role will bring no involvement with players or transfer negotiations.
Strafford wants Wilkinson, who played a key role in plans for the National Football Centre during his five years as Football Association technical director, to assist the board in developing a long-term football strategy and in helping to secure potential investment.
Strafford said: "I am massively excited that we have access to one of the most respected people in football. We know he has the club at heart and is very keen to see something change.
"Howard will be helping us with the business plan and will help us improve the club's infrastructure. Brian Laws doesn't have time to concentrate on that because his priority is to manage the players."
Sheffield-born Wilkinson, who quit the Owls to join Leeds United in 1988 after five successful years with the club, will be officially unveiled at a press conference this morning.
Manager Laws, whose side visit Ipswich Town tomorrow, said: "It's a win-win situation for the club and the right direction to go in. Howard is coming in at the top end purely to support the board in bringing in new finance. They need someone in that position with a wealth of knowledge and experience to help drive forward with the takeover.
"I have spoken at length with Howard and I welcome his involvement because it will help support the football club," he added.
"Right now, we do not have a infrastructure to take the club forward because the finance has not been available.
"That is something I have identified and which has been a major concern over the last 12 months.
"Howard's role will have nothing to do with the football side of things. It is nothing to do with the training ground or the team. His knowledge can help produce a document that will show the new investors the direction we want to go in. He wants to produce something so that we are in a position to be ready when the money becomes available."
Laws, meanwhile, is hoping to sign two new players on loan in the next few days.
The Owls manager is refusing to divulge the identities of the players but confirmed that a winger and a central midfield player are on his wanted list.
"I have spoken to four players and we will probably sign two of them – if not before the weekend, then definitely next week," he said. "All four are experienced Championship players."
Laws revealed that the proposed return of striker Bartosz Slusarski on loan from West Bromwich Albion had collapsed because the player wants to return to his native Poland.
He also stressed that finances remain tight despite the recent boardroom changes.
"There is still a long way to go and I have still got to work within the framework that I have been working with financially. Money has always been tight and I have had to work with a one-in, one-out scenario. We are trying to strengthen but the money cannot stretch too far. If you stretch it too far, you end up losing the quality."
Laws reiterated his desire to hold onto prize assets during the January transfer window saying: "There have been no bids - but there is still a long couple of weeks to go. We have told our young players that no-one is for sale – unless the amount of money offered is so extreme that it is impossible to turn down."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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