Survival would be big achievement – Jones

The fate of 18th-placed Owls remains undecided heading into the penultimate Championship weekend and while their safety could be assured before they kick a ball at London Road this tea-time, equally they could find themselves just one point above the drop zone come time for kick-off.

Hillsborough chief Jones says he has never known a season like it in football – with as many as nine sides still in a relegation fight – and neither can countless other people involved in the game.

Jones, whose side will be roared on by a huge 5,000 travelling army today at London Road, said: “Come twenty past five, we will probably know what we need to do.

“It could go one of three ways; it could go to the last game or we could sort it out in the game we play or it could be done and dusted for us.

“That shows how tight the division is. And to have 55 or 56 points and still not be safe is ridiculous.

“A lot of scouts and other people who have been in at the club cannot believe it.

“No-one has ever known a season like it.

“It is crazy when you are a couple of games off a play-off spot and also a couple of games off being in relegation.”

Jones insists that once Wednesday’s survival is achieved, then all and sundry can consider it an impressive achievement, especially given that the Owls plunged the depths in the autumn and lost seven straight games at one point and have had to compete against a number of well-monied rivals.

He added: “I would not say we would celebrate (safety).

“But I certainly think that it would be a fantastic achievement for everyone connected with the football club – I do not think people realise that.

“When you look at what other teams have spent and the wage bills they have to play with; they could buy and sell this football club 10 times over.

“But what they have not got is the support we have and we have an advantage that way. They have been fantastic once again.”