What Sheffield Wednesday’s potential new owners really plan for Hillsborough and why it matters | OneFootball

James Bord's consortium's plans for their investment into Sheffield Wednesday have been outlined

The prospective new Sheffield Wednesday owners have no immediate plans to invest heavily in the stadium or training ground infrastructure.

According to The Star, the consortium led by James Bord will have some plans to invest in Hillsborough, but nothing transformative is expected soon.

The former poker player’s offer to buy the Championship side was named by administrators as the preferred choice in December, but the club are still awaiting approval from the EFL to complete the deal.

The Yorkshire outfit have been in administration since October, and the team are now on the verge of confirming their relegation to League One for next season.

Henrik Pedersen’s side have been handed 18 points worth of deduction penalties for multiple rule breaches by the EFL as a result of their financial difficulties, which led to Dejphon Chansiri’s time as owner coming to an end.

James Bord’s Hillsborough plans

The new Sheffield Wednesday owners are set to invest into the club’s infrastructure, but not to a significant degree.

Instead, it’s understood that their immediate plans are to put money into improving the first team squad, with the side set to be competing in the third tier next season.

While there is an agreement to invest in both the stadium and the training ground upon completion of the takeover, it’s not understood to be a priority for Bord’s consortium.

Hillsborough underwent some difficulties at the start of the season, which led to the North Stand being temporarily closed prior to the first game at home against Stoke City in August.

However, the new owners’ priorities are believed to be about building a team that could potentially contend for promotion back to the Championship next season.

Sheffield Wednesday’s relegation is likely to be confirmed this month, giving the club plenty of time to start thinking about life in the third tier.

Sheffield Wednesday’s first team squad is a bigger issue right now for new owners

Hillsborough and the training ground could use some fresh investment, but rebuilding the first team squad is a much greater concern at the moment.

Pedersen’s squad is quite barebones at the moment, and an increase in quality and quantity of players will be needed for life in League One.

Large investment into Hillsborough, and other infrastructure, is something that will just have to wait while a competitive squad is built.

These are the tough choices that owners have to make when funds are limited, but this focus makes the most sense in the short-term for the Owls.