Heckingbottom exclusive part 2

Last updated : 07 July 2005 By Andy Parsons

As the realisation from last season sinks in, Heckingbottom is confident that the team will do well if they play with as much determination as they did during the last campaign.

Heckingbottom told Footymad: "We are a team now, and the fans realise it that if we get beat, it won’t be from the lack of effort. Everybody has bad days and everybody comes up against a better team now and again. Every supporter knows we give it 100percent and that’s one of the reasons why we got promoted – through pure effort and determination.

"I would say we need more players in. We are still a bit light and the gaffer’s hoping to sign another two or three at least. Ideally with the transfer window coming in this season we could do with two players in every position, whether that happens or not, I don’t know. But the gaffer isn’t going to add players to the squad who will not bring anything to the team which is important as well."

The Barnsley-born left-back, who has performed at this level before with Norwich City and Bradford City, is adamant that Wednesday will not flop like The Bantams did when they got relegated last year.

He added: "I could compare this team to when I was at Norwich were we were young and hungry and performed a lot better as some players had points to prove. At Bradford, we were an old team with players who have had good careers in the past and perhaps the hunger had gone somewhat but I think Wednesday will do better than Bradford did two years ago."

In other news from Hillsborough, Glenn Whelan has extended his contract with The Owls until 2008.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 captain put pen to paper on a two-year extension and joins Chris Brunt who this week also penned a new contract.