David Storch reacts to major off-pitch Sheffield Wednesday decision | OneFootball

David Storch completed his takeover of Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month

A new era began at Sheffield Wednesday earlier this month with confirmation that David Storch’s takeover had been completed.

The Owls endured a difficult season as the team suffered relegation to League One off the back of significant financial issues.

The Yorkshire outfit went into administration in October, and Henrik Pedersen’s side struggled for results as the off-field problems mounted.

But there is now optimism for the future under new ownership, with Arise Capital now in charge at Hillsborough after years of mismanagement under Dejphon Chansiri.

Pedersen will be hoping to rebuild the first team squad this summer with a view to potentially fighting for promotion straight back to the Championship next season.

Sheffield Wednesday have already confirmed the appointment of David Bruce as CEO, and it’s been reported that Simon Wilson could be brought in as the new sporting director, as Storch looks to build a strong leadership team behind the scenes.

David Storch outlines why David Bruce was hired as Sheffield Wednesday CEO

New Sheffield Wednesday owner Storch has backed the appointment of Bruce as the club’s CEO, claiming that he and his son Michael knew straight away that his level of expertise was exactly what they were looking for.

He praised the executive, and believes that he is the man to oversee the beginning of the new era at Hillsborough.

“When we first went down this exciting path, Michael and I came to appreciate one of our biggest challenges would be to determine how we would run this great and historic club,” said Storch, via The Star.

“Initially, we planned to spend as much time as necessary in Sheffield but once introduced to David Bruce, we immediately recognised that with his knowledge of the game, incredible experience and appreciation for the importance of the community, and the engagement with fans, we found our man.

“I can genuinely say he is one of the most impressive men I have met and he has my full confidence as we take this journey together.”

Despite the appointment of a CEO, Storch also outlined that he and the other members of Arise Capital will still be heavily involved in the decision-making process at the club and that they are all totally aligned in the path forward for Sheffield Wednesday.

“David, together with Michael, Tom [Costin] and myself, are totally aligned,” he added.

“We will continue to provide tone at the top, capital resources and mentoring, while David will be front and centre as we execute our vision and strive for excellence and greatness.”

Sheffield Wednesday were at risk of receiving a 15 point deduction penalty as a result of Storch’s takeover, which would’ve impacted next season.

However, the club managed to reach an agreement that has led to them avoiding such a penalty, meaning they will start the next campaign on zero points.

This offers a clean slate for Pedersen, who is set to remain in charge of the Yorkshire outfit after overseeing a difficult year in the Championship.

The Dane was appointed last summer following the departure of Danny Rohl, stepping up from his assistant coach position.

While the team struggled for results, he earned a lot of praise for his handling of the difficult financial issues behind the scenes.

Sheffield Wednesday could now be set for an active summer transfer window, with Bruce set to oversee the rebuilding of the first team squad, alongside the possible arrival of Wilson.

David Bruce appointment is a strong first step for Sheffield Wednesday’s owners

Bruce has experience as an executive at the top of the game from his time at Sunderland, and he knows what it takes to rebuild a team given their rise from League One to the Premier League.

He is an exciting appointment as CEO, and it’s a strong first step from the new Sheffield Wednesday owners.

They are making proactive moves to bring in people with a lot of football knowledge, building a foundation that can turn things around at Hillsborough.

After the disastrous last few years under Chansiri, this must feel like a real breath of fresh air for supporters, who have every reason to be positive about the club’s future.