Irvine prepares for 'massive' weekend as Owls talks progress

John Prutch, managing partner of the Chicago-based investment firm Club 9 Sports, has spent the last week in Sheffield meeting officials, stakeholders and representatives of the club's major creditors, the Co-Operative Bank. Sources say the meetings have been 'very positive'.

Prutch has already made it clear that the deal does not hinge on results over the final six games of the season. However, manager Alan Irvine insists the Owls are on course to stay up.

Victories over Queens Park Rangers tomorrow and Bristol City on Monday could, potentially, lift the Owls eight points clear of the relegation zone with only four more games to play.

Irvine describes this weekend as 'massive' in terms of the club's future but says the pressure on his players will not go away until the Owls are mathematically safe.

"It is a massive weekend, no question about it," said Irvine. "There is a lot of pressure on us – as there is on many teams – and I have felt there has been pressure in every game. Only a handful of clubs are now thinking they are not going up or down and we don't fall into that category.

"We are not going to be safe or relegated after these next two games but they will certainly have a bearing," he added. "We needed to win 11 games out of 23 when I took over, which is really good form in this division, and the lads are on course to get that ratio."

With former Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock now in charge at Loftus Road, tomorrow's fixture will have an added edge.

After winning his first two games, Warnock set his sights on a play-off push but a subsequent run of five games without a victory has dragged the London club into a relegation scrap.

Irvine last night risked the wrath of Owls supporters by revealing that he likes Warnock who, for many years, was regarded as Public Enemy No 1 at Hillsborough.

During his time as manager of arch-rivals United, Warnock repeatedly made jibes about the Owls and famously danced on the Hillsborough turf after winning his first Sheffield derby.

"I don't know how well this will go down with everybody but I actually get on quite well with Neil," Irvine admitted.

"I can only speak as I find and I find him a proper football man. He obviously has a great deal of passion but I have never had any problems being in the opposite dug-out."

The Owls will be boosted tomorrow by the return of both winger Jermaine Johnson and defender Lewis Buxton after hamstring injuries.

Jamaican international Johnson has missed the last three games while full-back Buxton has been unavailable since the end of January.

Only midfielders Tommy Miller and Sean McAllister are now sidelined for the Owls who have a squad of 22 senior professionals.