Sheffield Wednesday takeover: Mike Ashley & John Textor claims made, Dejphon Chansiri's golden elephants to be sold | OneFootball

FLW brings you all the latest news from the ongoing situation at Sheffield Wednesday.

The atmosphere around Sheffield Wednesday has altered dramatically in recent days, following an announcement on Friday that the club had been placed into administration.

For the first time in multiple years, there is genuine hope and optimism around Hillsborough, with the Owls set to begin a long-awaited new chapter.

A 12-point deduction leaves Henrik Pedersen's side rock-bottom of the Championship on -6 points. However, on-pitch matters remain secondary in the minds of supporters at the moment.

With the ongoing situation at Hillsborough in mind, Football League World brings you all the latest news surrounding a pending takeover.

Four or five genuine bidders revealed by Sheffield Wednesday administrator

Administrator Kris Wigfield confirmed to the BBC that multiple parties have expressed genuine interest in acquiring the club, saying: "Within the numerous inquiries we've had, we certainly think there are already four or five interested parties that look like the real deal."

It was also outlined that two key conditions must be met by any new ownership group - proving that the club can be made financially viable, and that the EFL's fit and proper persons test is passed.

Sky Sports reports that the EFL themselves are also prepared to relax the 21-day insolvency guideline, which can usually get in the way of an immediate sale, to fast-track a takeover at Hillsborough.

Mike Ashley weighing up the next steps for Sheffield Wednesday takeover

Among the parties interested in taking over at Hillsborough is former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley. As per reports from the Daily Mail, he is "weighing up next steps" as he considers the prospect of launching a formal bid.

Ashley sold Newcastle in 2021 for £300 million, and his proven record in managing distressed assets could make him the ideal figure to stabilise the financial situation at Hillsborough.

His tenure at St. James' Park divided opinion, mainly due to the club's stagnation in relation to fellow Premier League clubs. However, he is presumed to be among the leading contenders to purchase Sheffield Wednesday.

The club's debts remain significant, with money owed to HMRC, the EFL, kit supplier Macron, and a substantial wage bill that is expected to be paid this week.

Ex-Crystal Palace owner John Textor makes contact over Sheffield Wednesday takeover

As per reports from journalist Alan Myers, American businessman John Textor has spoken to Wednesday's administrators about the possibility of purchasing the club.

Textor sold his 43% stake in Crystal Palace over the summer, while his company Eagle Football Holdings own multiple clubs across the world - Lyon, Botafogo and RWDM Brussels.

Interest was first revealed back in June, and it was revealed this week that he is keen on continuing with his involvement in English football, as The Athletic reported that he had seen a £400 million bid for Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected, while he is also keeping an eye on Charlton, QPR, Derby and Watford.

Myers claims that Textor has confirmed to him that he remains keen on Wednesday, and the 60-year-old has now spoken to the club's administrators.

Sheffield Wednesday administrators to auction off Dejphon Chansiri's golden elephants

Alongside the ongoing process of removing Chansiri's name from the Hillsborough seats, any trace of his ownership is being erased from the club as administrators prepare to auction off the two golden elephant statues that the Thai businessman installed on either side of the Hillsborough South Stand main entrance.

Since Chansiri's first full season as Wednesday owner in 2016, the statues stood outside the entrance, offering strength, power and good luck in Thai culture, as well as being a symbol that represents the nation.

The Times report that staff had to move the elephants inside for the final home match of Chansiri's tenure against Middlesbrough, due to the fear of vandalism.

As with all funds going into the club at the moment, money raised from the auction will go towards the operational side, including staff and creditors involved in the ongoing sale process.

Ticket prices slashed for Norwich City clash on Bonfire Night

With optimism filtering through the Sheffield Wednesday fanbase, current administrators have announced a major reduction in ticket prices for the upcoming home clash against Norwich City on November 5.

The fixture has been rebranded as "Blue & White Night", with a pre-match light show set to take place, alongside events to celebrate the start of something new at Hillsborough, and to 'reignite the spirit of Sheffield Wednesday'.

Adult tickets in the Kop now start at £20, rising to £25 in the Grandstand and North Stand, and £30 in the South Stand, all of which is a huge reduction when compared with the previous pricing structure under Chansiri.

Administrators have also confirmed additional discounts for the upcoming Steel City derby against Sheffield United, alongside a four-match package deal for fixtures against Preston, Derby, Hull and Blackburn.

Over 27,000 fans were in attendance as the Owls fell to a 2-1 defeat against Oxford United over the weekend, while over £200,000 was spent in the club's megastore in a real boost to the coffers, and it gives staff a real chance of getting paid on time.

Barry Bannan speaks out on Sheffield Wednesday's future

Wednesday club captain Barry Bannan has also recently echoed the complete shift in mood around Hillsborough since Friday's announcement.

"On Saturday, the turnout from the fans spoke volumes," Bannan told TalkSPORT on Tuesday morning. "It's their livelihoods that have been affected, and on Saturday they came out in their numbers and made it an amazing day."

He also added that the dressing room mood has lifted, despite the club being hit with a 12-point deduction: "We've got no pressure on us now as a club. We've got to go out, play with a bit of freedom and try to enjoy it."

With the Owls sitting on minus-six points, relegation to League One may seem inevitable. Though the mood shift around the place has been incredible.

Fans can spend money without lining Chansiri's pockets, players are speaking positively about the future, and genuine bidders are queuing up.

The road to a full recovery will be long, though a path is being cleared for Wednesday to build and move forward, after years of Dejphon Chansiri's vice-like grip.