Owls put under TV spotlight in FA Cup

Their tie at non-league Southport has been switched to Sunday, November 7 with a noon kick-off in front of the live ITV cameras.

Southport director Haydn Preece says it is the Haigh Avenue stadium club's biggest game since a third-round tie against Everton in 1968 and defender Kevin Lee summed up his team-mates' feelings by saying: "It's the draw we all wanted. We were all watching the draw live on Sunday and all the players started phoning each other up as soon as it came out.

"It's great news for the club and we are just made up to be on the telly."

Wednesday, who are still attempting to finalise a takeover of the club, will be desperate to avoid the fate of Leeds United, who made a shock exit from the competition against another Blue Square Premier club, Histon, in 2008.

But the omens are not good. The Owls have only won one FA Cup tie during the last decade – a 4-0 win against part-timers Salisbury back in 2003.

You have to go back to January 16, 2001 against Norwich City for the previous success, Paul Jewell was manager and goals from Matt Hamshaw and Gerald Sibon brought a narrow 2-1 victory.

The Owls, who need a money-spinning Cup run to help ease their financial crisis, have received 1,100 tickets for the tie, which is sure to attract a 6,000-capacity crowd.

Due to the FA Cup switch, the Owls' JP Trophy area quarter-final game against Hartlepool United, scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, will now take place 24 hours later at 7.30pm.

Huddersfield Town's first-round tie at Cambridge United has also been selected for TV coverage. Kick-off will be 5.30pm on Saturday, November 6.