Sheffield Wednesday takeover news: James Bord confirmation, January deadlines explained, EFL test | OneFootball

All the latest on the Owls' new ownership

Movement for Sheffield Wednesday at last, but not resolution.

The Owls’ long-running ownership crisis edged forward on Christmas Eve when administrators confirmed their intention to grant preferred bidder status to a consortium led by James Bord.

For a fanbase exhausted by months of drift, administration and points deductions, it was a moment of cautious relief.

Yet preferred bidder status is not ownership.

With January approaching, Wednesday face a narrow and unforgiving window in which delay could have tangible consequences - for the squad, for the balance sheet and for next season’s competitive position.

Preferred Sheffield Wednesday owner announced by administrators

On 24 December, administrators Begbies Traynor confirmed their intention to move forward with a preferred bidder following the initial bidding process.

The BBC later revealed that bidder to be James Bord, who owns Dunfermline Athletic and has minority stakes in clubs in Spain and Bulgaria.

In a statement, joint Owls administrator Paul Stanley said the proposal offered “certainty”, describing it as fully funded with clear financial assurances and a structure that would deal with creditor obligations in line with EFL rules.

Crucially, administrators said no further sporting sanctions were anticipated as part of the transaction.

That assurance is important. Wednesday are already bottom of the Championship after an 18-point deduction for entering administration, and clarity over future penalties is now as important as survival on the pitch.

Consequences loom for Sheffield Wednesday takeover – deadline set for end of January

The immediate concern is cash flow. Writing via his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon reported that Sheffield Wednesday may be forced to sell prized young assets at the end of the January transfer window to avoid a shortfall before the window reopens, should a takeover be delayed and not stabilise the Owls’ current position.

Goalkeeper Pierce Charles is among those named, alongside other academy players. The warning reflects a structural reality: the financial breathing space created by Dejphon Chansiri’s departure is finite.

A £1 million loan from an anonymous Owls supporter, combined with short-term fundraising efforts, ensured wages were paid through October, November and December. Beyond that, the safety net thins.

Nixon also noted that manager Henrik Pedersen would be costly to remove should new owners wish to change direction.

The Dane is on a three-year contract, with a “big” settlement reportedly required if he is dismissed - another financial consideration in a club already operating at the margins.

Potential owner speaks out about his vision for Sheffield Wednesday

Confusion briefly followed the preferred bidder announcement.

Earlier that day, rival bidder David Storch had spoken at length to BBC Radio Sheffield, outlining a vision for the Owls centered on governance reform, academy investment and professionalised leadership structures.

Storch also confirmed his bid would meet the EFL’s “25p-in-the-pound” requirement for unsecured creditors, ensuring no further points deduction next season.

He revealed a new consortium partner after John McEvoy’s withdrawal, adding to a sense among supporters that his interview had been carefully timed.

When the BBC later reported that Bord - not Storch - had been granted preferred bidder status, some Wednesday fans were left questioning how close the race had been, and why competing visions had been aired so publicly on the same day.

Questions remain for prospective James Bord ownership at Hillsborough – points deductions and the EFL test

Despite administrator confidence, key uncertainties remain.

If Bord’s consortium were ultimately unwilling or unable to satisfy the EFL’s creditor rules - including paying all secured debt and at least 25 per pence of unsecured debt - Wednesday would face a further 15-point deduction next season, almost certainly in League One.

That will not be ultimately confirmed until a takeover is complete.

There are also questions about regulatory approval. Bord’s background includes work with gambling and analytics firms, and while nothing has been formally raised, some supporters remain wary about the Owners’ and Directors’ Test and how long it may take to clear.

For now, Wednesday exist in limbo: too fragile to wait indefinitely, too important to rush recklessly.

The football may already feel like a write-off, but the next four weeks will shape far more than the final league table.