Carlisle United v Sheffield Wednesday: Irvine eager to take Owls forward with Mandaric

Mandaric, whose 8m takeover was announced to the Stock Exchange yesterday, has developed a reputation for hiring and firing managers at a rapid rate during his 12-year involvement with the English game.

During his reign as chairman of Portsmouth and Leicester City he axed a staggering 13 managers including the current Owls' assistant manager Rob Kelly in 2007.

Irvine should be on solid ground after winning six consecutive games and steering his side into both the third round of the

FA Cup and tonight's Northern area semi-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Carlisle United.

But the Owls manager has yet to sit down with his new chairman to discuss plans for the future and accepts that speculation about the possibility of change 'comes with the territory'.

"Every manager is under pressure to achieve what their club expects of them," Irvine said. "I knew my job this year was about trying to get promotion and nothing has changed. I'm still under that kind of pressure.

"The takeover deal is great news for the club and I share the ambition to take the club back to the top," he added. "Milan Mandaric has obviously done extremely well at both Portsmouth and Leicester and, if he can do as well at Sheffield Wednesday, then clearly there are good times ahead for people connected with the club."

Former Preston North End manager Irvine, 52, arrived at Hillsborough in January but failed to prevent the club's relegation from the Championship.

However, after a major shake-up of personnel this summer, the Owls now sit fourth in the League One table only two points adrift of the top two.

Irvine revealed that he had spoken to Mandaric, briefly, after Saturday's FA Cup second-round victory over Northampton Town.

"We had a little chat without going into any detail," he said. "But I am looking forward to getting the chance to sit down with him to find out what his plans are.

"I take people as I find them and, hopefully, we will have a very successful working relationship. It would be fantastic to be manager of this club if it was to get back to the heights that it was in the past. But to do that there will be a lot of hard work needed and probably a lot of money to be spent."

Mandaric has reportedly sold Leicester for 30m and his 8m deal to buy the Owls has wiped out the club's 30m debt.

In the High Court, tomorrow, Mandaric will ensure the Owls have the 300,000 needed to pay a VAT bill and avoid a winding-up order. His takeover will be finalised at a shareholders' EGM on December 15 and, less than 24 hours after that, he will provide another 1.1m to pay off a PAYE bill in the High Court.

Supporters will be looking to Mandaric to bankroll Wednesday's current promotion push although nothing is guaranteed.

"Every manager would want to be given an opportunity to strengthen and there are areas of our squad that I feel need to be strengthened to achieve what we want to achieve," said Irvine.

"I don't know what the limits (on spending) will be. Until I find that out, I have no idea whether I will be shopping at all or in what market. It may be that this takeover is simply making sure that the club is debt free. If that's the case, that is still very, very good news."

Mandaric describes his investment in the Owls as a 'massive challenge' and has vowed to do 'everything in his power' to secure a return to the top flight.

He will retain the services of current chairman Howard Wilkinson, albeit in a new role as non-executive director, as well as chief executive Nick Parker.

"Sheffield Wednesday is one of the most famous names in football," said Mandaric yesterday. "I have been able to speak to a lot of people in and around the club in recent weeks and their passion for Sheffield Wednesday has helped inspire me to get to this point.

"I give the supporters, and everybody who cares for this club, an assurance that, if shareholders vote in favour of this deal, I will do everything in my power, working with Howard, Nick and Alan Irvine to again make Sheffield Wednesday a real force in English football. It is a massive challenge because it has not happened there for a long time."

Outgoing chairman Wilkinson saluted Mandaric's arrival, saying: "I believe this to be one of the most important days in the recent history of our great club. Our trials and tribulations have been well documented but I can now see a brighter future for Sheffield Wednesday. Our club has been on the brink of administration and, if this were to have happened, so many people around our club would have suffered. I will always be grateful to Milan Mandaric for showing the determination to save Sheffield Wednesday."

Tonight's game at Carlisle could fall victim to the weather although the pitch is covered and was playable at the weekend.

Defenders Lewis Buxton and Jon Otsemobor are still ruled out by injuries so the Owls may be unchanged.

Irvine topped up his homework on Carlisle by chatting briefly to Wilkinson's son Ben who played against the Cumbrians on Saturday for non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup.