A loan debt owed to former chairman Dave Allen threatens to dent improved financial figures - and, barring a takeover, it might only be resolved by the sale of a key player.

Hillsborough's power vacuum is in danger of sucking a large fly into the soothing ointment of a debt figure reduced to under £26m.
Allen will continue to resist pressing for repayment of outstanding loans understood to total more than £1m, including interest, in the hope of the club changing hands.

However, unless a buyer or backer can be found in the coming months, Allen's last and only resort would be to ask the bank for his money back. And it is unlikely that Wednesday could fund a redemption without raising the necessary cash in the transfer market.

New ownership remains the one sure-fire way of retaining the likes of Mark Beevers, Richard Wood, Tommy Spurr and Lee Grant, though the board remain determined to help Laws keep his best players after assuring him of this in contract talks.

The Allen issue is largely outside their control, though any attempt to portray him as the bad guy would be wide of the mark considering his hand-outs to the club and his patience in waiting. It may be stretching a point to wonder if even some of his critics now lament his passing, but it's reasonable to suppose Allen's rule is being viewed in a slightly different light. Wednesdayite's "crowd consortium" plan is considered a worthy and constructive idea; on the other hand, the aim of raising £1m is only equivalent to the amount the ex-Owls chief donated to player funds.

This underlines the need for a benefactor and everyone is united in that cause after a merciful end to the infighting.

But Allen remains - unwillingly - at the centre of it all. He simply wants to get on with his life, put a bitter episode behind him and pursue an involvement in Chesterfield.

Wednesday, too, have to be setting new sights and convince their dwindling support of a sense of direction other than drift. Laws, whose communication skills are a blessing, has clearly received the right noises.

Having wanted to hear positive words as much as supporters, Laws knew results could have added an unwanted element to the debate about keeping him. Unfortunately, the doubters need to be constantly reminded about what is realistically expected from a squad on which he has spent considerably less than has been received from sales.

If the yardstick is mid-table, then Wednesday are only a couple of points adrift of the target in this ever-elastic league . . . and only four points from the top six.

The nitty gritty on Laws is, I believe, that he will have expected an improvement in terms. Pay is one thing but a more important factor is the extent of the severance clause. It has stood at six months, as was the case with predecessor Paul Sturrock, whose four year deal - awarded shortly before he was sacked - was purely cosmetic.

This is true of most managerial contracts. What really matters is the compensation clause and Laws - who is likely to be on annual wages of a little over £200,000 - will probably have sought a 12 month cushion, especially with other clubs sniffing.

Now and in the future, the club has to get away from short-term thinking, either through a takeover or by adopting the sort of dogged, far-sighted approach that transformed Sheffield United as a result of the city rivals keeping faith with Neil Warnock.

Laws' bond with players and fans is two-thirds of the battle. His directors are supportive, as far as they can be, but until there is a truly settled boardroom from which a leader must emerge, progress will always be difficult.

What do you think? Add your comments below

More:
Sports Talk
Local Sport
Sports Player
National Sport