Sheffield Wednesday are still waiting to fall into the hands of new owners – and the clock is ticking.
Sheffield Wednesday manager Henrik Pedersen has stressed the club needs to be able to start planning for next season as quickly as possible amid the recent collapse of the James Bord-led takeover bid.
The consortium being led by Bord officially pulled out of the race to complete a takeover at Hillsborough last Wednesday, exactly nine weeks to the day after being granted ‘preferred bidder’ status by administrators Begbies Traynor.
Wednesday were officially relegated to League One just over a week ago, meaning everyone associated with the Owls is desperate to start planning for next season as quickly as possible to give themselves the best possible chance of avoiding another season like this one.
Administrators are understood to have either met or received contact from interested parties over the last few days. Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley and the Storch family are understood to have retained interest in buying the club.
However, Wednesday are understood to remain some time away from falling into the hands of a new owner, meaning the clock is against them in their hopes of being able to start laying foundations for the 2026/27 campaign.
Understandably, Owls boss Pedersen is determined for the situation to be sorted sooner rather than later, admitting he has some “clear ideas” he wants to get started on to try and take the club forward.
Pedersen addresses takeover situation
“I think I have the same feeling as all the players, all the staff, all the coaches, all the fans and the potential new owner,” Pedersen told The Star. “That everyone wants it to go as quick as possible so we can start to plan the future.
“[We need to] start to get fresh air in so we can all start to look forward and not only survive. We have so much to do right now to let the ship go. To make all those performances in training and in games.
“Right now I have some clear ideas. But, yes, we’re all looking forward to the new owners coming and then we can take it from there.”
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of this season, everybody associated with the Owls cannot wait to draw a line under what has been a forgettable campaign and hopefully look towards next season with a degree of optimism.
Pedersen, though, is insistent he and his players will continue to give everything they have got to try and finish with a positive points tally and secure a first home win since last April.
The Dane added: “We want to have the first home win, we want to have as many points as possible, and we want to come on plus. We have to give our fans as many good performances as possible to the end of the season so we can finish the season strong, and so we have a strong culture as fundamental for the next season.
“But we’ll also create some good results, and I promise the boys, the coaches, will do everything to finish this season strong.”
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