Sheffield Wednesday takeover news: What Kris Wigfield & EFL have said regarding next steps | OneFootball

The latest surrounding a takeover at Sheffield Wednesday

It's coming up to three months now since Sheffield Wednesday were placed into administration, and a month since a preferred bidder was named. However, a takeover is yet to be completed.

Christmas came early for Wednesday fans in 2025, as it was revealed on December 24 that the administrators had selected a preferred bidder.

Then, the BBC reported that the consortium was led by James Bord, owner of AI-based stat company Short Circuit Science and part-owner of Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic.

This would, in effect, begin the rebuilding of the Hillsborough-based side following a torrid end to the decade-long reign of Dejphon Chansiri, which was mired by late wage payments, transfer embargos and points deductions.

However, this hasn't developed in the weeks since, creating more uncertainty around the Wednesday fanbase.

Ultimately, this is the only thing happening around the club that the majority of Owls fans care about, currently, with their League One status all but certainly confirmed for next season. Once a new owner is confirmed, Wednesdayites can finally look ahead to the future positively.

With that in mind, here's everything currently happening with the takeover at Sheffield Wednesday.

Two Short Circuit Science board members join James Bord in the consortium

If a takeover is to be completed, the BBC revealed earlier this month some more people that Sheffield Wednesday fans would need to be acquainted with.

Alongside James Bord in the leader position is Felix Romer, a German-born entrepreneur who, like Bord, has a strong line of achievements in the online consumer sector, including, but not limited to, gambling.

Romer is a shareholder in Short Circuit Science alongside Bord. Fellow consortium member, Alsharif Faisal Bin Jami, is the Short Circuit group CEO and has been described as the consortium's chief executive.

He's a board member at Bord-owned Dunfermline, as well as Spanish second-tier side Córdoba, so he has experience on the boards of football clubs.

The current state of play of Sheffield Wednesday's takeover — and what Kris Wigfield has said

While Bord and co have been reported as the preferred bidder, their being selected was just the first part in the process of completing the takeover.

Per a statement made by Kris Wigfield on January 9, Begbies Traynor was fulfilling their requirements under the insolvency law by revealing that one had been chosen. Now, it's over to the EFL to conduct their review and approval process.

The statement goes on to say that once the approval process has progressed: "We will make a formal announcement with further details."

Ultimately, there isn't much more that the administrators can do at this current moment in time. Wigfield says that they have to comply with the legal requirements to avoid jeopardising the sale and putting the club's future in doubt, which means keeping details in-house for the time being.

No timeframe given for the EFL approval process

In news that won't excite Sheffield Wednesday fans, there is no set timescale on the approval process to be concluded, according to BBC Sheffield's Rob Staton.

Kris Wigfield has said that due diligence was carried out by them in the process that saw the preferred bidder be revealed with proof of funds supporting the offer, and a non-refundable deposit being made too. However, the EFL need to do their own checks.

Staton revealed that written notification of the preferred bidder was sent to them in early January, despite the Christmas Eve revelation, so initial documentation has only been reviewed in the past couple of weeks.

As there's no set timescale for when the takeover will finally be concluded, Wednesday fans will be sitting impatiently refreshing news sources with the hopes that something will happen soon, as the possibility of the takeover not satisfying the EFL's creditor rules, therefore incurring a 15-point deduction at the start of next season, still hangs in the balance.

Ultimately, a proper vetting process is paramount, especially given the mismanagement of the club towards the back end of Dejphon Chansiri's time at Sheffield Wednesday, but a decision sooner rather than later will be preferable.