Fresh start beckons for Jeffers and Sodje while Irvine assesses squad

Jeffers has not started a league game since the opening day of the season and was transfer- listed by former manager Brian Laws after a red card for violent conduct in the Carling Cup.

Sodje has just returned from a two-month spell on loan at Charlton and will be out of contract in the summer.

Irvine, who is preparing for his first game in charge of the Owls against Barnsley on Saturday, said: "Everybody here will be given an opportunity to get in the team. If they do well, they will stay in the team regardless of where they are in terms of their contract."

Chairman Lee Strafford has been working hard to secure new investment for the Owls but nothing has been promised or guaranteed.

Irvine knows that he may have to work purely with the players already at his disposal to lift the Owls out of the Championship relegation zone.

"I have had no assurances as yet and there is still some way to go in terms of getting the investment," said Irvine.

"At this moment, I am simply concentrating on what we have got. I am aware we will have to do a little bit of buying and selling to make any changes."

Former Owls manager Chris Turner, meanwhile, has warned Irvine of the pitfalls in attempting to bring back the glory years at Hillsborough.

Turner, now in charge at Hartlepool, was sacked after two years as Wednesday manager in 2004 after failing to steer them out of League One.

"I'm delighted they've gone and got Alan in," he said. "He's a great football man and a likeable person. He's also got all the right credentials to do the job.

"The only problem is, if the club don't get significant investment Alan will find it very difficult. He needs big financial help to get them challenging at the top of the Championship.

"It's such a high-pressure stadium to play in week-in, week-out and the players you can afford on their budget cannot handle that situation. He will have to wheel and deal in the market, bring in free transfers and those players can't handle having to perform like Premier League players in front of 20,000 to 25,000."