Exclusive: Sheffield Wednesday call police over hoax email 'sacking' Irvine

The email – sent in the name of a senior club official and including contact details – infuriated the club who had to fend off a stream of enquiries to make clear Irvine was still the manager.

But last night the fan involved, Ben Allen, said the club had over-reacted to a practical joke which had gone wrong. He said he had apologised for the hoax which he said was prompted by the anger he felt after following Wednesday to London on Saturday where the Owls lost 4-0 to Leyton Orient.

Wednesday have banned Mr Allen, a season-ticket holder, from Hillsborough until the outcome of the inquiry.

The furore surrounding the hoax email comes with Irvine himself admitting he is now fighting for his job ahead of tonight's critical home game with Yeovil Town.

The weekend's heavy defeat left the Owls languishing in mid-table despite an infusion of new players in the wake of Milan Mandaric's takeover.

Explaining the background to the hoax email, Mr Allen said: "I had been down to London to watch another battering, at

Orient, and I was shocked he (Irvine) actually hadn't been sacked.

"I was talking about it with a few pals and we couldn't believe he was still in a job. Just as a joke, I thought I'd do it as a wind-up and the next thing I know I'm banned.

"If it has upset the member of staff that wasn't my intention but I think the reaction has been heavy-handed."

Mr Allen, 36, from Hutton Cranswick, East Yorkshire, said he had spent much of yesterday trying to convince Wednesday officials it had been a practical joke which had backfired – but to no avail.

The official-looking email said Wednesday were announcing the departure of Irvine by mutual consent with a press conference to be held yesterday.

The story gathered pace after it was quickly picked up by fans' websites.

Wednesday have not seen any funny side to the hoax and a spokesman last night confirmed the matter had been reported to the police earlier in the day.

The spokesman said: "This person has used, without permission, the contact details of a senior member of staff which could have had wider implications. This has now been referred to the police."

A police spokeswoman said: "South Yorkshire Police are aware of the situation and are assisting the club with enquiries."

Meanwhile chairman Mandaric insisted the club should not 'panic' though Irvine accepted his position is now 'under scrutiny'.

The Owls have won only one of the last six league games and have slipped to 12th in the League One table, nine points adrift of the top two.

Mandaric has never been slow to react when it comes to hiring and firing – he has parted company with 13 managers during his 12-year involvement in the English game.

Another defeat tonight could signal the end of Irvine's reign with Mandaric determined not to miss out on a return to the Championship this season.

Irvine said: "I am not daft and I know that last weekend's result is the kind of result that puts me as manager under a lot of scrutiny. Results will determine whether I am in a job or not and that was a terrible result.

"Everyone has every right to be critical and I am not going to try and defend myself.

"The chairman was disappointed with the result and the second-half performance," he added.

"We spoke about this on Sunday night. We spoke about the result and the performance and what the reasons for that may have been. That's the way the discussion went. My job was not discussed. "

Irvine, who was sacked by Preston North End just 10 days before his appointment as Owls manager last January, has won 23 of his 56 games in charge.

He agreed that the club's recent results are a source of concern but stressed that he was working hard to put things right.

"I will continue to do the work in the way that I do it," he said. "I work extremely hard and I will keep doing that.

"I am not saying that guarantees success but I believe it gives you a better chance and nothing is going to change that."

Mandaric spent 8m saving the Owls from administration last month and has already provided Irvine with the funds to sign four new players – Gary Madine, Michael Morrison, Reda Johnson and Mark Reynolds.

"This is a difficult time for results but at the same time we all have to not panic," said Mandaric.

"We have a crucial game (tonight) so we've got to get

behind the players and the manager and give him a chance.

"He is bringing new players in and they need two or three games to settle down.

"We'll bring two or three more players in to enhance the quality of the team and I believe results will be there.

"I have got to be strong and stand behind the manager and the team now and make a decision that I believe is the right decision.

"This is not the time for panic," he added. "This is the time for all of us to be together and get behind the team and give us a chance to get out of this league."

Tonight's opponents Yeovil are currently three points adrift of safety in the League One relegation zone but have conceded only one goal in their last five games.

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