Irvine anxious but defiant over Sheffield Wednesday's possible points deduction

Although the Owls survived a midweek winding-up petition in the High Court, chairman Howard Wilkinson refused to rule out the possibility of administration in the near future.

Under Football League rules, any club that takes that route is docked 10 points – a penalty which would drag the Owls from the top to the bottom of the current League One table.

Irvine, who insists that his players are still "perfectly focused" on tomorrow's home game with unbeaten second-placed Carlisle United, said: "It is very difficult to win points – so we don't want to give them away cheaply. It would be awful if there was a deduction.

"We all hope that there won't be a problem and we won't face a situation where we do get deducted points. We would be bitterly disappointed if that happened but, if it did, we would have to get on with it.

"I didn't think it would go as close as it was this week," he added.

"I honestly expected things to be resolved. When it went all the way to the hearing, you probably think that is getting too close for comfort."

The Owls needed an additional loan of 780,000 from their major creditors, the Co-operative Bank, to stay afloat on Wednesday but already owe a further 300,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, who issued the winding-up petition.

The Co-operative is now owed over 25m as part of the club's total 30m debt and, without major new investment, the Owls will continue to struggle financially.

Wilkinson and chief executive Nick Parker held further talks with the bank yesterday and confirmed afterwards that the relationship between the two sides was still 'positive'.

"The club, the Co-operative Bank and serious potential investors are working together to find a long-term solution that will give Sheffield Wednesday the best chance of success in the future," said Wilkinson.

"Administration is something that I, the Co-operative Bank, our potential investors and most Wednesdayites do not want to see for many reasons."

Irvine was rewarded for his team's impressive performances yesterday with the npower Manager of the Month award for August. Midfielder Giles Coke also won the divisional Player of the Month award.

"Clearly, a lot of people contribute to the results we have got," said Irvine. "Both the players on the pitch and the staff off the pitch. I'm delighted we have got the award because it means we have had a good month."

The board of fans' group Wednesdayite, which owns 10 per cent of the Owls' shares, met last night to draw up plans aimed at getting fresh blood into the Hillsborough boardroom.

The group have the power to call an extraordinary meeting of the club's shareholders but it is understood it favours – at least initially – trying to negotiate change at the top of the Owls' hierarchy.