Laws believes, with ample evidence, that when Frank Simek returns at right back next season Wednesday will have potentially the best rearguard in the Championship.

Can the Owls keep Mark Beevers, Richard Wood and Tommy Spurr, the trio of discoveries who brilliantly underpinned the team's escape from relegation? It's a key question that cannot be answered unless – or until – there is money on the table.

But it would be a surprise if there were not serious bids for at least one of the three, remembering, too, that Simek attracted Premiership interest before his lay-off – and that Lee Grant is emerging as an accomplished keeper after a consistent first season at Hillsborough.

Laws, who meets finance director Bob Grierson and chief executive Kaven Walker for budget talks on Monday, said: "We can build around these players. They've shown they can be the nucleus of our side for many years to come. I think they would be as good as any Championship side's defence and it's important we try to keep that unit intact."

For reasons why he can't make a firmer declaration, look no further than Madjid Bougherra and Chris Brunt, major players he had to sell to balance debts, albeit for realistic and attractive fees.

Laws said: "Things can be taken completely out of your hands because of finances. We are talking about excellent players and I'm sure they are widely admired by many people. If it's taken out of our hands there's not a lot you can do, but we'll do everything in our power to keep them."

The board are likely to share that stance. Certainly, there is no risk of the Owls being forced to sell on the cheap – it's just that, at all levels, every player has his price.

First up for Laws are decisions on a couple of out-of-contract players – fringe men are always at risk with pruning in the air – plus the five loan recruits. Of these, Ben Sahar (Chelsea) and Franck Songo'o (Portsmouth) may prove unattainable as young players wanted for development by their clubs.

More gettable, perhaps, is Adam Bolder (QPR), though he, like Graham Kavanagh (Sunderland), is still on contract elsewhere. Equally, Bartosz Slusarski is returning to West Brom who are paying Wednesday a £250,000 promotion instalment on the Brunt deal.

Laws can't use that cash bonus to bid for Slusarski, who made a useful impact, because the money is already in the budget.

"I've talked to them all," he said ahead of an announcement of his intentions next week. "The loan players made a major contribution and without them we'd have struggled."

Laws and his players were undeniably due any luck that came their way in that remarkable last-day win over Norwich. There were unforgettable moments for the 36,000 crowd quite apart from it being the strangest 4-1 game you will ever see… the cheering at Hillsborough for news of a Sheffield United goal… the incredible Dion Dublin ovation, a spontaneous gesture that will live in the memory… and the sight of Laws conducting an impromptu radio interview before the end with safety in the bag. Who could have predicted any of that?