Turner could be given money to spend

The 61-year-old has been on the Hillsborough board for three years and heads the A&S Leisure group which owns Owlerton Stadium in Sheffield.

He takes over from Geoff Hulley, who will stay on as a director.

Allen has vowed to make sweeping changes at Wednesday, who were relegated to Division Two last season.

"I want to change the culture here," he said. "The staff will all be working with one goal in mind - the success of Sheffield Wednesday.

"I feel passionate about the 20,000 fans who are our bread and butter. They turn up in rain, snow and hail and have suffered terribly these last few years.

"I have been part of the board in that time and I apologise for not having had sufficient input to get things right."

But he now insists he will do everything he can to bring the glory days back to Hillsborough.

"I'm looking forward to it," he told the club's website.

We have to look at what's available on free transfers but we need to start in a winning vein Dave Allen

"I will give it 100% effort. I'm an eternal optimist - we will get it right and I will work hard to make sure of that."

Allen had claimed he did not want to become Wednesday chairman and revealed it was his wife who persuaded him to take the role.

"It changed when I was on holiday in Paphos with my wife last September. We were relaxing on the beach and she asked me how much money I had committed to Sheffield Wednesday," he added.

"I told her it was �2m. She turned to me and said: `You'd better get in there and sort it out'."

Allen wants manager Chris Turner to scour the list of released players for new signings but hinted that he may dip into his own pocket to fund transfers.

He added: "When I first came I said I wouldn't put any money into the club. Now I'm in for �2m. Other directors have put money in - we are all heavily committed.

"We have to look at what's available on free transfers but we need to start in a winning vein."

Allen reiterated the need for the Owls to slash the �22m debt and pinpointed the proposed sale of their Middlewood Road training ground to Asda as the key to their long-term survival.