BBC SPORT | SHEFF WED | Shreeves quits Wednesday

Shreeves told the club's official website, www.swfc.co.uk: "With the limited resources available to the club, the last few weeks have been very tough.

"In the best interests of both Sheffield Wednesday and myself, I felt the honourable thing to do was to offer my resignation.

"I would like to place on record a hearty vote of thanks to the club's fans, who have been fantastic to me in their support."

Wednesday's company secretary Alan Sykes said: "Following a conversation with Peter Shreeves, and subsequent discussions with the board of directors, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club have reluctantly agreed to accept his resignation.

"This is a sad day for the club. We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Peter for his efforts on behalf of Sheffield Wednesday, and offer him our best wishes for the future."

It is the sixth change of manager in four years at Wednesday and brings to and end Shreeves' second spell in charge.

Shreeves was in disconsolate mood at the end of the defeat against Preston, when the Owls were booed from the field after their seventh league loss of the campaign.

"This was a bitter pill to swallow. I said before the game that we had three home games coming up but we've lost the first one and we are very despondent," he said.

"I can't keep making excuses for the team. One or two of the younger players looked for the shadows and we ran out of ideas."

Shreeves admitted some of his younger players were being asked to do "a man's job" but refused to criticise the fans for their reaction at the final whistle.

"The supporters have been terrific and I wouldn't knock them in any shape or form," he added.

Caretaker manager Yorath admitted he was shocked by Shreeves' decision.

He said: "It's been an accumulation of things for Peter. Although he has not given any reasons for his resignation, it's a shock to me.

"The huge expectancy at a club like this could not be delivered. I've spoken to the players and there's a lot of sadness around the club because he's been here for quite a few years."

Yorath refused to rule himself out of the running to take over the job permanently at Hillsborough, despite the Owls' perilous position which sees them just one point above rock bottom Stockport in Division One.

"We'll just have to see what happens. I'll certainly take over for Saturday and then we'll take it from there. The job at the moment is to get the club out of the mire," he added.