Sheffield Wednesday 'sounded out' Reading assistant boss Andrew Sparkes ahead of appointing former Royal Sal Bibbo as goalkeeping coach, according to reports.

Sparkes, who worked with Reading boss Ruben Selles at Southampton, joined in June and had previously been a goalkeeper coach and set-piece specialist at St Mary's.

He had previously worked with New York Red Bulls and Red Bull Salzburg before returning to the UK in 2019.

The Owls were in need of a goalkeeper coach following the arrival of new manager Danny Rohl, and yesterday appointed former Reading player and coach Bibbo.

Spending over a decade in Berkshire, Bibbo worked alongside the likes of Marcus Hahnemann, Adam Federici and Alex McCarthy as he helped win two Championship titles.

However, according to the Sheffield Star, Sparkes was 'sounded out' over the role too.

Sparkes donned the clubs once again last Saturday, filling in for Tony Warner with the former Liverpool shot-stopper was ill and unable to travel to Shrewsbury for the last league match.

Only three sides have conceded more than the Owls, who sit adrift at the foot of the Championship table.

For comparison, nobody has shipped more goals in League One than bottom club Reading.