Bullen leads players backing for Owls boss
Sheffield Wednesday captain Lee Bullen has demonstrated the strength of dressing room support for Brian Laws by calling on the club to maintain their backing of the manager "for the forseeable future."
Bullen, confident Laws will lead the Owls clear of the drop, has no vested interest in making the gesture, having just been told by the Hillsborough boss that he is unlikely to be offered a contract for next season.
But the veteran Scot, 37 next month, insists the manner in which he was given the news highlights Laws' ability to command loyalty from his players. And he believes his manager will ensure the team do not have their eye taken off the ball by the takeover issue that is naturally dominating the headlines.
"I'm disappointed about the decision made about me personally but I have nothing but respect for Brian Laws for telling me early enough to get something else sorted out," said Bullen.
"That's the mark of the man. And for all the goings-on behind the scenes he's done nothing but keep the players focused on their jobs. Any speculation regarding his future would be disappointing. I hope the club does the right thing by him and sticks by him for the forseeable future."
Laws himself will know that there can be no guarantees - especially with new ownership in the offing - and accepts a responsibility to keep the club in the Championship, having admitted his team should be a few places higher.
But, amid all the uncertainty, two things have remained constant - the backing of the crowd and, in particular, his players. To be fair, also, the club have stood by Laws by giving him the Glenn Whelan money for loans.
Bullen added: "The manager has a fantastic working relationship with all his players. People are naturally disappointed when they are not in the team but everybody is behind him 100%. Both he and Russ Wilcox have been outstanding."
Dressing room comments like these can become derided as cliches when a club is fighting relegation but Bullen is a genuine guy and the support is real.
It's why - with little personal reward to gain - he's busting a gut to play some part in the run-in after suffering a hamstring tear last weekend. "It's not as bad as we first thought and I aim to be back for the last month in the hope of helping as much as possible," added Bullen, who believes the win over Cardiff, on top of a creditable draw with Charlton, has given the Owls a platform for survival ahead of tomorrow's derby at Barnsley.
"The confidence based on two clean sheets is a brilliant building block. If we carry on like this we'll win more than they lose."
And it has not escaped anyone's attention that a win at Oakwell, closing the gap between the clubs to three points, would drag Barnsley into the relegation issue.
Wednesday have been linked with West Brom striker Craig Beattie - probably a proposition only in the event of more injury lay-offs as Enoch Showunmi battles to overcome the ankle knock he took last week.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 0 C
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Tomorrow
Light sleet
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