Owls reject Hobson offer

Hobson claims that he could steer Manchester City defender Danny Mills, Derby winger Gary Teale and Sheffield United striker Geoff Horsfield the Owls' way and says that he would "subsidise" the deals in some way.

But Laws had to say no to the offer because it would still have meant Wednesday adding to their already-stretched wage budget.

Hobson said: "I'm a worldwide traveller with contacts not only in boxing but also in football.

"I rang Brian to tell him that I could get him these players. and told him it wouldn't break the club's wage structure; I would have subsided the necessary financial outlay in some capacity.

"Brian seemed a nice chap. He said 'unless I'm getting them for nothing, I can't (sign the players). I've got a budget and I've gone over it. But I do like Danny Mills'.

"He said he had to take off the pressure to get a striker in and hoped to get one for Saturday."

The Owls have since landed Francis Jeffers in a 700,000 deal with Blackburn and will have committed a substantial financial package to the player's three-year deal.

Hobson added: "I was just seeing if I could help in any way. I won't follow it up with anything else; I'm too busy with the boxing.

"But if they want to get in touch with me for help in brokering a deal, I'm still here.

"I think if I offered a player to Sheffield United who their manager fancied, they would welcome me with open arms. There might be some politics involved, with Wednesday. I don't know whether Brian Laws' hands are tied. Let's forget about politics I'm not doing this for me, for publicity; I'm a fan and I'm just trying to help the club."

Jeffers is in contention for a debut at Ipswich tomorrow - with Deon Burton possibly out because of a knee injury.

Laws sees the signing of the 26-year-old former Everton and Arsenal striker as a coup. "I believe he'll get goals in the Championship," he said. "I think he'll be a really astute signing for us." Owls: P48/49