Sheffield Wednesday takeover: Henrik Pedersen sends clear signal to James Bord | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has urged the Owls' next owner to invest in their training pitches, while James Bord leads the takeover race.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has outlined an area of investment that the Owls' next owner must prioritise once a takeover of the Steel City club is completed.

James Bord has been named as Wednesday's preferred bidder, which could signal light at the end of the tunnel for the Hillsborough outfit, who are currently in administration.

However, Bord is being sued by his former business partner, Jonathan Cohen, over his investment in Spanish club Cordoba, which could further delay the takeover process.

Meanwhile, the Owls will be mathematically relegated to League One on Sunday if Steel City rivals Sheffield United defeat them at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen issues training ground investment plea

Wednesday remain on negative points in the Championship, while last Saturday's loss to Millwall saw them score their first goal of the calendar year.

Meanwhile, Pedersen told the Yorkshire Post that the Owls' prospective owners must invest in their training ground pitches: "It is one of the most important things. When we play against the other teams in the Championship, intensity is one of the most important things, but to create this intensity, we need a good pitch, so the ball can travel very quickly, and we can challenge each other defensively.

"But it is also an important thing offensively that we can move the ball so quickly that we challenge the brain and not only the technique (of the opponent). We cannot play quickly on the training pitch.

"So to challenge the intensity defensively, or offensively, you need a top pitch. If you don't have this, then you get more tackles, but you don't get this intensity you need to compete in the game."

Pedersen may not remain in the Wednesday dugout for next term's League One campaign, but Bord should still heed the 48-year-old's advice regarding training pitches if his Owls takeover goes through.

Sheffield Wednesday will be determined to delay League One relegation

The Hillsborough side have endured an extremely difficult campaign, which has been defined by the fact that they are in administration following the exit of former owner Dejphon Chansiri, who inflicted financial chaos in S6.

Chansiri's wrongdoings were responsible for the exit of then-boss Danny Rohl last summer and the departures of star players such as Josh Windass and Anthony Musaba.

Prominent exits remained a theme in the winter transfer window, as Wednesday legend Barry Bannan joined Millwall.

Meanwhile, the Owls' dire financial straits have heavily impacted on-field matters, as the South Yorkshire club have not won since their 2-0 victory over Portsmouth back in September.

Wednesday will be relegated to League One no matter what happens between now and the end of the season, but they should be eager to delay that eventuality.

Suffering relegation to the third tier because of a defeat against Steel City rivals Sheffield United on Sunday would be the worst possible way to endure that fate.

Furthermore, earning a shock victory over the Blades would instil pride into a Wednesday side who have been repeatedly kicked in the teeth this term.