SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Sheffield Wednesday fans watch on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton FC at Hillsborough on August 04, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Sheffield Wednesday spokesperson gives update as US-based investors lodge takeover bid, Chansiri has had his say
An update surrounding the future of Sheffield Wednesday has emerged, with one Florida-based consortium lodging their expression of interest in the club.
Sheffield Wednesday have had a turbulent latter end to the 2024/25 Championship season amid uncertainties off the pitch.
At the centre of things is Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri, who has received plenty of opposition from supporters, who notably staged a protest ahgead of their 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.
Chansiri penned a message to Sheffield Wednesday fans and has made his feelings clear about not unnecessarily selling the club. However, Sheffield Wednesday are attracting interest from parties, with the club receiving an expression of interest from a Florida-based consortium.
- READ MORE: Championship relegation predictions as Luton Town and Derby County wins put Hull City in the mire
Dejphon Chansiri makes decision as consortium lodges an expression of interest in Sheffield Wednesday
In a report from The Star, Sheffield Wednesday have received interest from ‘a Florida-based consortium made up of a collective of successful business people and professional athletes’, with a bid being sent prior to Easter weekend.
Wednesday owner Chansiri, as per a spokesperson, has ‘made clear the criteria for potential investors to follow’, after they stated that the USA-based investors showed no proof of funds, as well as no identity of the investors, leading to the spokesperson referring to the offer as ‘derisory’.
The spokesperson also said: “Outstanding monies owed to the club by the previous sponsor in respect of a commercial partnership remain.”
This comes after a couple of months of turmoil for the Owls, which includes Chansiri being unable to pay the players and a select few of the backroom staff on time for March, but was able to rectify the issue as a three-window ban loomed.
- READ MORE: How Championship play-offs are predicted to take shape as Coventry City continue to slump and Blackburn emerge
Owls fans should be optimistic as interested parties emerge
The last thing that Owls fans would have wanted in this situation is for Chansiri’s claims that he is ‘happy to listen and happy to talk’ if ‘the right individual or group [can] take our club forward’ to be met with silence.
Last week, reports emerged that Moroccan billionaire Anas Sefrioui was interested in acquiring Wednesday, although that has been dismissed by the African himself, but now the American consortium has emerged.
With the potential that Sheffield Wednesday has, because of the size of the club and huge fanbase, there will no doubt be interest in the club; it is now just down to Chansiri to play ball with any likely successors.
Sheffield Wednesday handed major boost in Jamie Vardy pursuit as Phil Parkinson confirms Wrexham stance
The future of Jamie Vardy has taken a surprising turn as Sheffield Wednesday show interest in the boyhood Owl.
In the past week, Jamie Vardy confirmed his imminent departure from Leicester City after 12 years at the King Power Stadium, which will see him leave the club following their relegation to the Championship.
Since then, several Championship clubs have swarmed to sign the former England international, who, despite being 38 years old, is still revered as a player who can make a significant difference in the second-tier, having bagged 18 in the Foxes’ 2023/24 promotion campaign.
One side that have emerged as contenders to sign Vardy is Sheffield Wednesday, as EFL Analysis revealed yesterday.
It is understood that Wrexham are also interested in the Leicester legend, however, their boss Phil Parkinson’s recent comments could potentially put Sheffield Wednesday in the driving seat.
- READ MORE: Leicester City are seriously thinking about hiring Russell Martin, but he may be holding out for a different job
Recent Phil Parkinson comments could put Sheffield Wednesday in the driving seat for Jamie Vardy signing
Wrexham confirmed their promotion to the Championship at the weekend after they beat Charlton 3-0 at home. The club, owned by Hollywood royalty Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have gained a reputation for signing top reputation players, no matter the level, and a link to Vardy has been made as a result.
However, Wrexham boss Parkinson may have put the links to Vardy to bed with his recent comments, per The Daily Mail.
“I think it’s interesting because the jump in salaries is incredible – mind-blowing,” said Parkinson. “Even coming up to [League One] level, the jump to get players of Championship quality is expensive, but obviously with the next level, I don’t think people outside football quite realise.
“We’ve always tried to make sure the culture in the club is right, and I think that’s key – no superstars, no egos in the dressing room – and we’ve got to try and get that balance right again.
“You always need extra quality when you go up a level to make sure the right people come into the building.”
It is safe to say that, based on Vardy’s prestige at Premier League level, as well as his highly-documented ….housery against many sides, ‘superstar’ and ‘ego’ could almost certainly be a nod to the Leicester City man.
- READ MORE: Eagle-eyed Sheffield Wednesday fans noticed Danny Rohl do one thing in Hillsborough lap of honour
The Owls will benefit far past on-pitch product with Jamie Vardy signing
There is no doubt that 99.9% of Sheffield Wednesday fans would want to see Vardy donning the famous blue & white of the club he supports. Having come through the academy on S6, he was never able to make it to first-team level before joining local non-league side Stoicksbrudge Park Steels.
But for the small minority of fans who may still need convincing, the off-pitch benefits would be massive for the club, as such a player would certainly bring extra eyes on the team, and revenue would certainly stream through because of shirt sales, for example.
Of course the Owls still have many hurdles to jump to sign Vardy, and he would likely require a wage that Dejphon Chansiri may not be fully inclined to jump straight in for, but bringing in a player with such a profile would no doubt benefit the club.
