If Sheffield Wednesday are not promoted from League One this season then chairman Milan Mandaric says he will face a bill of millions of pounds. The Owls currently lie 16th in the division, 18 points off the play-off places and only seven above the relegation zone.

Mandaric told BBC Radio Sheffield: "Going into next season and still being in League One will probably cost me £6m or £7m.

"I have to pick up and clear the cost of this season."

The former Portsmouth and Leicester chairman added: "It's probably £3m to £4m in support [gate receipts] and another £3m in things we will not get from television or anything else."

Serbian-born businessman Mandaric took over at Hillsborough in December, purchasing the club for £1 and negotiating terms to wipe out their £30m debts.

The Owls have won just twice in their last 11 games and have not tasted victory in the league at Hillsborough since December.

"I think there's are a lot of negativity happening for a long," said Mandaric. "Not three months, not 10 months - it's probably the last 15 years.

"But the supporters here are above anything else I've seen. They'll come back and support the team."