Wilkinson still optimistic over Hillsborough takeover

Sheffield Wednesday chairman Howard Wilkinson remains "cautiously optimistic" that a £15m takeover of the club will be completed.

The Owls have been negotiating with Certified Oilfield Rentals for several weeks, but a 2m advance promised by the Dubai-based company has yet to materialise and Wilkinson revealed the club was also in talks with two other potential investors.

Wilkinson said: "Nothing has changed. As far as I and the board are concerned, talks with COR continue. Talks with other potential investors also continue, in order to find the right sort of investment for Sheffield Wednesday and the right sort of people to be involved with the club."

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Former Wednesday manager Chris Turner, acting as intermediary for COR senior executive and main investor Kevin Mundie, said this was "a massive week for Sheffield Wednesday".

Mundie is understood to be one of six potential investors who have yet to agree on the amount of each individual's financial commitment.

Turner added: "These are complicated negotiations and we need to come up with something this week that satisfies the club.

"The bank are happy with the proposals from the investors, but now they have to come through with the money and get the deal done."

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Since news of the current investment talks were revealed, the Owls have produced an impressive six-game unbeaten run.

That looked like coming to an end on Saturday as the Owls trailed Bournemouth at half-time and went off to a chorus of boos from the Hillsborough crowd.

But Neil Mellor's 82nd-minute equaliser maintained the record and left Owls winger Gary Teale, who provided the assist for Mellor's goal, demanding more from his team-mates.

"We just need to get that bit of consistency," he said.

"We've got this unbeaten run; we want to keep it going. It looked for long periods on Saturday as if it was going to end.

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"We've kept it going but we want to be better than we were. I think we are a much better side when we are positive; it gives everybody a lift and gives the crowd something to shout about."

Wednesday have only scored five goals in seven home games this season, but Teale believes the Owls have to accept the home crowd's expectations.

"Other teams love playing here, with the stadium, and the fantastic surface," he said.

"It's a big game for them. We need to match their enthusiasm and endeavour; if we can match that then hopefully we'll be ok.

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"Personally, I much prefer playing at home. I'd rather play here every week than away. You have to live with and deal with expectation levels.

"The fans here are incredible if we give them something to shout about.

"It's up to us to keep them onside and give them something to shout about. If we work harder than the opposition, then nine times out of 10 we'll win," he added.

Wednesday are fourth in League One and face two tricky fixtures next.

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This Saturday they travel to Charlton Athletic, before hosting fellow Yorkshire play-off rivals Huddersfield Town at Hillsborough a week today.

Their task at The Valley will be made even harder as captain Darren Purse is suspended after picking up his fifth booking of the season against the Cherries and must now serve a one-match ban.

Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp is expected to face a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring tear in Saturday's derby win over Sheffield United.

Sharp limped out of the action shortly after scoring Rovers' second goal against his former club, and the full extent of the damage has been revealed by a scan.

The injury is similar to the one that kept Doncaster team-mate James Hayter out for six matches earlier in the season.