Recent reports of a few of groups interested in taking over Sheffield Wednesday might lead to tremendously exciting times at Hillsborough.
2025 has been a year of turbulence for the Owls, with players going unpaid, stadium safety issues, and the search for a new owner sending fans on a rollercoaster of emotions.
After years of financial difficulties, ex-owner Dejphon Chansiri was forced to put Wednesday into administration in late October. Soon after, up to 80 parties expressed interest in purchasing the Steel City side, and the administrators narrowed the list to only the most serious contenders.
Some parties, including the group lead by former Crystal Palace owner and talkSPORT anchor Simon Jordan, have now determined that they were not entirely committed to a takeover. Ryan Howsam, a Sheffield-born insurance mogul, supported his bid to take control the Owls, but concerns about compensating Chansiri prevented them from moving forward with a purchase.
Former Newcastle United manager Mike Ashley made an initial offer of £20 million to become Sheffield Wednesday’s new owner, but that offer was quickly surpassed by three other parties. US billionaire John McEvoy and former professional poker player James Bord are also apparently in the running, although no decision has been made on who would have exclusive rights to buy the Owls.
The joint US bid might bring thrilling times to Hillsborough.
It was recently disclosed that two companies interested in acquiring Sheffield Wednesday had chosen to work together to complete the transaction.
This pair includes McEvoy, a US-based entrepreneur and investor. He is connected to Sheffield-based band Reverend & The Makers through his investment in talent agency Various Artists, which advised him on entering the race to take over Wednesday.
The Storch family makes up the other half of the duo. Despite being from the United States, they are no strangers to the English game, having previously been linked with a move for Plymouth Argyle.
Naturally, this increases their chances of winning because they have united resources to offer, whereas Ashley, for example, is on his own.
If this partnership succeeds, it might usher in an extraordinarily exciting period for Sheffield Wednesday. The Hillsborough supporters simply need to look at Birmingham City and Ipswich Town to be optimistic about their future prospects.
American groups joined those two clubs and drastically changed their trajectory. The Blues have invested heavily in the transfer market, are anticipating a new 62,000-seat stadium, and benefit from the presence of NFL icon Tom Brady among their shareholders.
Meanwhile, Ipswich have been promoted from League One to the Premier League on consecutive occasions and appear to be a decent chance to do so again this season. The Storch family and McEvoy are both tremendously affluent, and their combined finances have the potential to bring about significant change at Hillsborough.
Soon, the Owls may have plans for stadium upgrades, new infrastructure, and new players on their roster. With the assistance of these combined forces, supporters began to believe that the Steel City side had returned to its former glory.
Given their history and reputation in the game, Wednesday would soon become a force to be reckoned with if the US duo managed to take them over.
Sheffield Wednesday fans may be disappointed if the US duo do not win out.
Given the several potential benefits of the US couple winning the competition to buy Sheffield Wednesday, it may be disappointing if they are not chosen.
With the examples of Birmingham and Ipswich in front of them, a candidate like Ashley taking over may create a deflated atmosphere at Hillsborough.
The combined might of McEvoy and the Storch family would provide Wednesday with an abundance of resources, which is just what the club requires in this situation.
Ashley isn’t exactly short for cash, but he has previously demonstrated a reluctance to invest more than necessary when owning a football club. As a result, if the US partnership gets outbid for the Owls, a peculiar sense of disappointment may arise.
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