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Eurosport.yahoo.com continues its countdown to the Championship season with a preview of perennial sleeping giants Sheffield Wednesday.

Manager: Brian Laws

Last 10 seasons in the Championship (2007/08 to 1998/99): -/-/17/20/22/-/-/19/9/16

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (new signings in bold):

Lee Grant

Richard Hinds - Mark Beevers - Richard Wood - Tommy Spurr

Jermaine Johnson - Steve Watson - James O'Connor - Etienne Esajas

Akpo Sodje - Deon Burton

BACK-UPS FROM:

Richard O'Donnell

Frank Simek - Liam McMenamin - Peter Gilbert

Marcus Tudgay - Jimmy Smith - Kenny Lunt - Sean McAllister - Wade Small

Francis Jeffers - Leon Clarke

POSITIVES:

The highly-rated centre-half pairing of Mark Beevers (pictured) and Richard Wood look set to remain for the new season despite reported money-laden overtures for their services from Wolves and Coventry, while Wood has been made team captain. The arrival of midfielder James O'Connor after he turned down a new deal from Burnley is another bonus while there is attacking quality with the return from injury of Akpo Sodje, the possible return of Francis Jeffers and Deon Burton and youngster Leon Clarke. Much depends upon the outcome of the attempted takeover by the Geoff Sheard consortium: that will determine whether funds are available to Brian Laws for strengthening or whether he will be forced to sell.

NEGATIVES:

If that takeover bid is rejected by two of the four major shareholders, Geoff Hulley and Keith Addy - former chairman Dave Allen and fans group Wednesdayite have agreed in principle to sell - then it could be 'same old' for Wednesday: their fans have long bemoaned a lack of investment while the struggling club threw wages at players they could not afford. Opinions of Laws are often indifferent and he could be an obvious casualty should the season start with a whimper.

VERDICT:

Depends on the takeover. With a cash injection the Owls are capable of matching city rivals United and could even mount a play-off bid, while without new faces at the helm the gloom may descend once again upon Hillsborough. As always, the supporters - already unhappy at ticket price rises while some of their Yorkshire neighbours slash theirs -will not know what to expect from their team.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport