Sheffield Wednesday strong characters need to lead – Irvine

SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Alan Irvine admits that financial pressures at Hillsborough are likely to prevent a move for Blackburn Rovers midfielder Steven Reid.

The Republic of Ireland international is available on loan from the Premier League club and would be a valuable addition to Wednesday's fight against relegation.

Irvine, however, has emptied the Hillsborough transfer kitty by signing defender Eddie Nolan on loan from Preston North End in addition to securing Stoke City's Tom Soares and Derby County's Luke Varney for the rest of the season.

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"I am aware that Stephen Reid may be available on loan but I have not spoken to Sam (Allardyce) about that," said Irvine. "We don't have any money, as everybody knows, so if we don't have any money I don't quite know how we manage to bring anybody in on loan.

"We are certainly interested in good players who don't cost any money," he added. "And if people want to offer us very good players on loan and pay their wages, we won't turn that down but, at this moment, I would say that is not likely to happen."

The Owls host Leicester City tomorrow needing to reverse the slide that has dragged the club back into the Championship relegation zone.

Two of the club's three consecutive defeats have been at Hillsborough where patience among home supporters has been thin on the ground.

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"I don't know if a 'fear factor' is creeping in or whether it has always been there," said Irvine. "But there are certainly places where, as an opposing manager, you go knowing that you have to handle the atmosphere for the first 20 minutes or so.

"I could show you my notes from team-talks with Preston at Hillsborough and I am quite sure everyone else will be coming here and saying the same thing – it is very intimidating for the opposition – but it can also be intimidating for the home team if things are not going so well.

"Supporters are entitled to behave and think what they think and there is no way I am going to say the supporters must come and cheer everything we do," he added. "But if you want to play for Sheffield Wednesday, you have got to be able to cope with that."

Captain Darren Purse will return to action tomorrow after a three-game absence and Irvine admits his side have missed the tough centre-back.

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"He is a leader, no question about that, and not just because he wears the captain's armband, it is the way he goes about his job," added Irvine. "You need the strong characters and the leaders in your side when times are tough and, obviously, they are tough at the moment."