'This is such massive news' - Exclusive: Sky pundit reacts to Sheffield Wednesday, Mike Ashley takeover talk | OneFootball

Sky pundit Lee Hendrie has reacted to the news of a potential takeover of Mike Ashley at Sheffield Wednesday

Aston Villa favourite and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes that a potential takeover of Mike Ashley at Sheffield Wednesday from Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri would provide some much-needed security for the South Yorkshire outfit.

Sheffield Wednesday have undergone a turbulent six months under owner Chansiri, and are currently sitting 23rd in the Championship table, with only city rivals Sheffield United beneath them, Owls fans will be hoping that their ownership situation is resolved sooner rather than later.

It had been reported by Alan Biggs last week via X that former Newcastle United owner Ashley was a contender to purchase the club from Chansiri.

Ashley's ownership of Newcastle was controversial, to say the least, no less so than his decision to rename St James' Park to the Sports Direct Arena, despite earlier backlash from Magpies fans, who felt it disrespected the club's identity.

Further controversy continued thereafter, with a perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market, two relegations and handing an eight-year contract to former manager Alan Pardew, amongst a plethora of key points in Ashley's tenure.

Lee Hendrie believes that a Mike Ashley takeover at Sheffield Wednesday would be 'huge'

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky pundit Hendrie shared his opinion on whether the potential purchase of Sheffield Wednesday from Mike Ashley would provide stability to the club.

Hendrie said, "Finally, it would be massive for Sheffield Wednesday.

"I think just having that security now, where they know where they are at, Chansiri out of the equation, which has been an absolute shambles.

"I think he ran the club relatively well beforehand, and then it feels like he's just tried to run the club down.

"It would be huge if Mike Ashley goes in there, someone who has got a really good business mind. I think it's just such a massive move for the football club, particularly because there was all sorts going on there, wages not getting paid, et cetera.

"This is such massive news for Sheffield Wednesday."

Without question, a purchase of Wednesday by Ashley will raise far more questions than it answers, especially in the short term, and Wednesday fans will have every right to feel sceptical about the change of ownership.

Though Ashley would have to do something astronomically unpopular with Wednesday supporters to prefer the current regime of Chansiri to that of Ashley, who, as it stands, is nothing more than a potential candidate for the ownership, with nothing concrete.

Sheffield Wednesday will be keen to see the back of Dejphon Chansiri, even if Mike Ashley is his replacement

Whoever becomes the next owner of Wednesday will have a monumental job on their hands to turn the club's fortunes around.

The Owls are almost certainly facing a point deduction at some stage this season, following months of wages being either paid late or not at all, with the club under five separate embargoes, meaning they are unable to pay a fee for a player until 2027, as it stands.

The negligence by Chansiri of the South Yorkshire club has left them in a state of disarray, where they have had to provide over ten debuts to academy graduates in both the Championship and the League Cup, due to their lack of numbers.

The next owner will almost certainly have to contend with the fact that Wednesday will be playing next season in League One, barring a minor miracle.