Sheffield Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has given Owls caretaker boss Stuart Gray the whole festive period to prove himself, starting with tonight's Sky Bet Championship game against Wigan.

Mandaric will use the busy holiday programme to assess the former Saints manager's candidacy for the permanent manager's position and will wait until after Christmas before advancing the process of appointing Dave Jones' successor.

Wednesday face Wigan, Bournemouth, Blackburn, Charlton and Blackpool between tonight and New Year's Day.

Owls chief Mandaric said: "We are looking at everything and watching Stuart very carefully.

"His time is extended. We all have to get behind him and the team and give him full support and some space.

"It will be a good test of Stuart's ability, and I think he is a proper coach.

"It is more important to support him during the holiday period so we are not going to push very hard as far as interviewing goes."

Gray took over as Saints caretaker in the spring of 2001 after Glenn Hoddle left for Tottenham. He was appointed the permanent replacement in the summer but was sacked in October 2001 after a poor run of results.