Sheffield Wednesday had little relief over the holidays, both on and off the ground.

As takeover talk faded during Christmas and New Year, the Owls’ on-field troubles worsened, bringing the club dangerously near to an unwelcome slice of history.

Wednesday are currently just two games away from matching their all-time longest league winless streak of 20 games, which was set in 1975.

A humiliating 3-0 defeat to Preston North End on New Year’s Day was followed by back-to-back draws against Hull City and Blackburn Rovers, results that initially suggested resilience but ultimately confirmed a similar pattern of effort without reward.

With results faltering and finances strained tight, the focus is now on whether respite can be found off the pitch – and how much freedom the club will be afforded to maneuver.

Owls hope fresh clarity from the EFL regarding the January transfer window.

With the January transfer window officially open, the hope within Hillsborough is that clarity – and assistance – will follow.

Following the setback at Deepdale, head coach Henrik Pedersen indicated that the club is awaiting direction from the EFL on what business it will be allowed to undertake this month.

That advice cannot come quickly enough.

The Professional Footballers’ Association is said to have contacted Wednesday about player welfare, amid mounting concerns over the strain placed on a shrinking handful of senior players.

Injuries and recalls have whittled Wednesday’s roster to the bone, forcing frequent compromises in selection and fitness management.

There is still cautious optimism that the club will be able to obtain late loan acquisitions, particularly free transactions similar in nature to the one that brought Harry Amass to South Yorkshire earlier this season.

Conversations are already underway with many parent clubs, several of which have reportedly been encouraged by Amass’ growth.

However, even those close to the negotiations admit that such accords are likely to be based on goodwill rather than leverage, and may not be completed until late in the month. Owls fans will need to be patient.

Sheffield Wednesday’s squad continues to shrink with further injury troubles and a loan recall.

The attrition continued on New Year’s Day, when Liam Cooper was forced to leave with what Pedersen described as a “not good” groin injury.

Cardiff City has since recalled goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, significantly lowering the number of experienced choices available, despite the fact that the American was just demoted to the bench following Pierce Charles’ return.

Adding to the sense of unease, The Star’s Alex Miller reports that at least one anonymous first-team player is presently playing with an ailment that would normally necessitate several weeks of recovery.

It’s a circumstance that speaks to both necessity and risk: survival mode football, with all of the long-term ramifications that come with it.

There have been glimmers of encouragement. Nathan Redmond returned to action against Preston, although his short-term contract means his Owls presence could be ephemeral rather than permanent.

Sean Fusire’s return from AFCON adds another body, while Pedersen has provided an encouraging report on Di’Shon Bernard, who is anticipated to recover from a long-term knee injury in the spring. Nonetheless, these are small victories in the face of enormous challenges.

Fresh talks about Harry Amass’ Sheffield Wednesday future – Manchester United are not anticipated to recall its potential.

In the midst of the uncertainty, Wednesday supporters have been paying close attention to developments involving Harry Amass.

According to The Sun, Manchester United will not recall the 18-year-old in January, instead focusing on his development at Championship level, despite interest from Millwall and Stoke City.

While there is some uncertainty over whether Amass could be loaned elsewhere, there is reassurance that financial factors are unlikely to trump developmental ones.

For a club lacking in stability, continuity is crucial.

The waiting game for Sheffield Wednesday takeover news continues, with James Bord’s bid being reviewed.

Off the pitch, the waiting game continues. Takeover talks have stalled rather than terminated, with James Bord’s bid still under scrutiny.

The EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test remains the primary hurdle, and while no wrongdoing has been accused, Bord’s previous participation in the gambling business is thought to be a subject of concern.

Bord began his career working for gaming companies Starlizard and Smartodds before winning big money on the professional poker circuit and then focusing on machine learning and artificial intelligence in San Francisco.

Individuals found to have violated betting prohibitions are disqualified under the EFL’s stated regulations, but there is no evidence that Bord did so.

Nonetheless, in a regulatory atmosphere defined by criticism of low ownership norms and the impending arrival of an independent regulator, prudence has become the default posture.

For some Wednesday fans, the issue is less about Bord’s gambling history and more about his prior advising job at Sheffield United, which some at Bramall Lane saw as unproductive and unstable.

Whether those concerns are legitimate has to be discovered, but they highlight a larger truth: trust is thin at Hillsborough.