ON OWLS KICKING OFF

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY captain Barry Bannan expects the crisis-hit club to fulfil their opening Championship fixture away to Leicester on Sunday.

- by JOSHUA PECK

Players refused to feature in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Burnley on Saturday after wages were not paid on time for the fourth occasion in five months.

Sheffield Wednesday Supporters' Trust plans to protest against under-fire owner Dejphon Chansiri during the televised match against the Foxes at the King Power Stadium.

Asked if there was a prospect of players going on strike, Bannan, who on Saturday signed a new contract at Hillsborough, said: "No, I don’t think so. We pulled out of the Burnley game at the weekend, that was simply because it’s happened too much now.