Allen - Leaving In Three Years?

Dave Allen has revealed he is set to step down as Owls chairman in three-years time - but wants to be back in the promised land of the Premiership before he leaves.

The Wednesday chairman has set (another) three-year plan following the appointment of former Scunthorpe United boss Brian Laws yesterday - but expects to hand the reigns over to someone else at the end of the three years regardless of the Owls position.

He told the Yorkshire Post: 'Next year I want to be challenging for promotion, and if we don't get it, then the year after definitely, three years.

'Do I want to be here for those three years? Yes, I do. Beyond that? Each director here is elected for a three-year period, and if I get elected this year which I hope to be - I shall stay for another three years. And that will be it then, probably. I shall hand it over to someone else. I think I will have done my fair stint then.'

Allen has come under intense criticism from Owls fans since his arrival at the helm at S6 - but tensions heightened recently following the shock sacking of Paul Sturrock and the relatively low-key appointment of Brian Laws which prompted protests at Hillsborough since Sturrock's departure over two weeks ago.

And despite 'rueing' the day he accepted the request to become the Owls chairman, Allen has insisted that he will see the three years out in the hope that he leaves Hillsborough as a success.

He continued: 'I rue the day that the then-chairman, Howard Culley, came into my office and said 'Dave would you like to come and help us out at Sheffield Wednesday?' I rue that day, but I am not going to walk away from it, we will get it right.

'And I do believe we have turned it round, the accounts are good, the club's trading on a level basis now, remember you can't spend more than you earn. In addition to that we have got a fantastic academy, doing very well, the reserves are doing well - and that is all down to the man we have got in there, Sean McAuley.

'We have some fantastic kids coming through: Chelsea are looking at one, Manchester United looking at another. I think the club is now in its best position since I have been here, we are only six points off the play-offs. The foundations are there, we just now need to get behind this appointment, Brian Laws, get behind the team and let's see where we can take it.

Whether Wednesday fans believe Allen's words is another thing. The last time he revealed he would leave the club came as he appointed Chris Turner as Owls' boss. Allen revealed he would leave the club should Chris Turner fail - but stayed on as Chairman despite sacking his man.

The up-coming AGM is certainly going to be an interesting one...

Have YOUR say on this article now by visiting the official Vital Sheffield Wednesday forums by CLICKING HERE

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.