Liam Palmer is dreaming of a win on his landmark 500th Sheffield Wednesday appearance, but what he most craves is some clarity for the tortured club he loves.

The non-stop singing from the away end at the appropriately-named Pride Park on Saturday was a reminder that the people are what makes the 158-year-old instiution so important. It is pretty much all there is left after the asset-stripping of previous owner Dejphon Chansiri’s latter years and its aftermath.

Palmer is high on the list of assets, a boyhood fan due to play his 500th game at home to Watford on Tuesday. Barring injury, he should be the Owls’ second-highest appearance-maker by the time the season is over.

But it will be one best consigned to the dustbin, and the 34-year-old cannot wait for Wednesday to set out on a new course, preferably with him still on board.

LANDMARK APPROACHING: Liam Palmer has made 499 Sheffield Wednesday appearances (Image: Steve Ellis)

placeholder image — LANDMARK APPROACHING: Liam Palmer has made 499 Sheffield Wednesday appearances (Image: Steve Ellis)

Offers for the club were invited by last Friday and previous contenders Mike Ashley and David Storch are thought to have bid again, along with at least one other. Now the administrators must identify a preferred bidder to go through the various checks and hopefully come out the other side as James Bord failed to after withdrawing his offer.

It seems likely the Owls will start the next League One season on minus 15 points with none expected to pay the 25p in the pound to creditors including Chansiri league rules demand, but only new owners can decide who should be manager and what players he will work with.

"We're in a difficult period," admits Palmer, club captain since Barry Bannan's departure in January.

"A bit of clarity around the ownership is what everyone's craving – players, fans and staff alike.

EXPERIENCE: Liam Palmer (left) has twice won promotion from League One, where the Owls will be playing next season (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"The fans have shown over the last two games especially, they've been amazing. Results have not been good enough at all but the way they stayed behind at Norwich and the home game that followed against Southampton, and again at Derby, I think they can appreciate the effort the players are still trying to put in, especially the young players.

"I was in teams full of experience (as a youngster), seeing Hillsborough full and feeling the good side to being a professional footballer.

"It's up to players like myself and the older ones to help steer and guide them.

"I don't think anybody envisaged at the start of pre-season what was to come with the ownership, managers coming and going and losing the captain.

BID: Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is thought to have made a new offer for Sheffield Wednesday (Image: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

"Relegation, points deduction and not getting paid before, we have had that but as a whole, this season has been so unprecedented that you just kind of fall into a mode of trying to control what you can as a player."

That uncertainty extends to Palmer's position. Although a regular in the Championship this season twice promoted from League One, he is not naive enough to think that guarantees he will be around to challenge Andrew Wilson's club record of 546 Wednesday appearances between 1900 and 1920.

"It's not a question whether I want to stay here or not," says a player who has won over his fair share of sceptical managers at Hillsborough.

"I've played the most games, I'm the oldest player but I feel fit and well. I've been there and done it a few times in that division now so I'd like to think any new owner would like someone who knows the club but also experience around what probably will be a young team that needs a lot of players.

"I want nothing more than this club to bounce back as soon as possible. Hopefully we get the right people in to facilitate that.

"504 (appearances, for Alan Finney) and 507 (Jack Brown) are next on the list and we've got enough games to do that this season."

Although relegation is confirmed, although the club are on minus points after 36 games, and although a stack of unwanted team records could soon be added to Palmer's CV, the competitive juices still flow.

Asked about how special it will be to mark his 500th game at Hillsborough wearing the captain's armband, he replies: "A win to go with it and remember it by would be nice."

He looks back on a season from hell philosophically.

"It's any easy thing to say but without them kind of harder times, it makes you appreciate the good things that bit more,” he argues.

"This season in particular there's been days and times where you just think, 'What else?' Credit to the manager (Henrik Pedersen) for his positive optimism.

"The results have not been anywhere near what we would expect for a Sheffield Wednesday team in the Championship. I'd love nothing more than to be in a really competitive team pushing at the top of the table, having a real competitive squad to enjoy every (training) session.

"One thing I am confident of, whoever's in the shirt while I'm here as captain will keep finding a reason to keep turning up for the fans and the club. I'll keep driving that as much as I physically can."

For Wednesday fans with very little to celebrate this season, Palmer's dedication is well worth enjoying.