Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws has dismissed rumours his job could be on the line following the imminent takeover.Instead he has urged everyone involved with the club to "avoid being distracted" ahead of the south Yorkshire derby on Saturday.

The Owls are rumoured to be on the verge of receiving a takeover offer from a consortium headed by Lancashire businessman Geoff Sheard and speculation the potential new owners will seek a change of managerial staff has already begun.

"The last thing the club needs at the moment is more instability. I don't want to go into any game feeling that I need to worry about what future plans are," Laws told the Sheffield Star.

"I'm going to carry on as I have been doing: making decisions that I believe are right for the club and decisions that keep the players focussed and get results.

"We all understand what the needs of the club are. Of course, everybody is talking about the takeover; fans are asking, players are asking.

"On the football side, we have to avoid being distracted and try to keep stability; we must focus on what we can affect directly - and that's what happens on the pitch at Barnsley."

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