Today in the Football League

The Championship

Sheffield Wednesday Owls Manager Brian Laws has dismissed rumours of his job being on the line following reports of an imminent takeover from a consortium headed by the Lancashire-based businessman Geoff Sheard. "The last thing the club needs at the moment is more instability," Laws said. "I don't want to go into any game feeling that I need to worry about what future plans are."

Bristol City The Robins have announced a lucrative shirt sponsorship deal with the insurance company DAS Legal Expenses.

West Bromwich Albion Baggies manager Tony Mowbray has told striker Craig Beattie he can leave the Hawthorns on a loan deal.

Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis believes the Potters remain well placed to make the Premier League despite the 2-0 defeat at Preston on Tuesday. "We've got 11 tough games left," he said. "But I think we showed against Preston we are a team that go forward and create lots and lots of chances. Every game we play we look as though we are going to score. We play on the front foot, people say we're direct, but we play good football at times."

Barnsley On-loan goalkeeper Luke Steele has been voted FA Cup "Player of the round" for his performance in the Tykes' 2-1 victory at Anfield earlier this month. The 23-year-old joined the Oakwell side on an emergency loan from West Bromwich Albion for the match as first choice Tony Warner and Heinz Muller were ineligible and injured respectively.

League One

Leeds United Chairman Ken Bates said the club were "encouraged" by the Football League's offer to refer an appeal against their 15-point deduction to an arbitration panel."The only outstanding issue is openness," Bates said. "We want this thing to be heard in public and there's no valid reason why it shouldn't be. I'm surprised it's taken so long – this is what we've been trying to get resolved since September."

Swansea City Marcos Painter will be out for three weeks with a torn hamstring, suffered during the defeat at Milton Keynes Dons this week. "The injury is down to the huge number of games we have had to play in recent weeks," Swans physio Richie Evans said.

Luton Town Club administrators have conditionally accepted an offer for the club from a consortium headed by broadcaster Nick Owen.

League Two

Macclesfield Town Former Lincoln and Peterborough manager Keith Alexander has been named in charge at Moss Rose until the end of the season, with a view to an extension. Alexander replaces Ian Brightwell, who has left the Silkmen after turning down an offer to remain at the club as assistant to Alexander. "We felt a change was needed," chairman Mike Rance said. "It has been evident in recent weeks that consistency has been lacking."

Lincoln City The Imps have taken the 20-year-old Cameroonian Alex Morfaw on loan from Scunthorpe and have also offered a trial to Gillingham midfielder Aaron Brown.

Notts County Kevin Pilkington will be sidelined for up to two months after scans confirmed a fracture to his right leg. "I feel sick for Kevin," manager Ian McParland said.