Batth agrees to stay at Hillsborough for season

Batth, who also played on loan for the Owls last season, had been coming to end of his current deal at Hillsborough.

Manager Gary Megson had stressed the importance of keeping the 21-year-old whose performances at centre-back have been integral in the club’s push for promotion out of League One.

“I’m delighted,” said Batth. “I was here at the back end of last season and the first half of this season so I’ve managed to be around while the team has developed and I think I’ve played a good part in that.”

Reflecting on the team’s current position, second in the table five points behind leaders Charlton Athletic, Batth said: “We are in a good position at the moment in the league and as a group we look like we are getting stronger every day.

“We are keeping everything as consistent as ever in preparation for the Christmas period and just focusing on ourselves and what we’re doing to keep our run going.”

Megson is still hoping to agree deals with Derby County for goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and Stoke City for winger Ben Marshall.

Bywater’s deal expired last weekend and, with Nicky Weaver still recovering from knee surgery, that means Richard O’Donnell is likely to play in the Boxing Day fixture at Walsall.

Former Owls manager Chris Turner has been appointed new chief executive at Chesterfield.

Turner, who worked under Chesterfield’s owner Dave Allen at Hillsborough, will provide support to umanager John Sheridan.

Former Liverpool midfielder Damien Plessis could be set for a move to Doncaster Rovers.

Manager Dean Saunders is currently running the rule over the French Under-21 international who has been told he can leave Greek club Panathinaikos.

Plessis, 23, played eight times for Liverpool during a three-year stay at Anfield including two appearances for the club in the Champions League. He moved to Panathinaikos two summers ago and was close to a return to England with Leicester City last summer. Former Rovers manager Sean O’Driscoll, meanwhile, is helping out with coaching duties at League Two strugglers Plymouth.

O’Driscoll, sacked by Rovers three months ago, coached Plymouth manager Carl Fletcher as a youngster at Bournemouth and still lives on the south coast.

“While he’s not in a job it’s really nice that he’s helping me out,” said Fletcher. “There’s enough people out there that want to give you their opinion but you’re only going to listen to ones that you respect.”