Fresh Mike Ashley, Sheffield Wednesday takeover stance revealed as James Bord saga rumbles on | OneFootball

Mike Ashley is still interested in completing a Sheffield Wednesday takeover, depending on the outcome of the preferred bidder.

Sheffield Wednesday may have to turn elsewhere amid fresh doubts surrounding James Bord's prospective takeover of the Championship club.

Bord's connections to gambling and crypto-gambling could complicate where he stands in terms of the EFL's Owners' and Directors' test - he was handed preferred bidder status on December 24, yet over a month later, there's seemingly been no progress.

While the Owls remain in administration, they suffered their 20th defeat of the Championship campaign on Saturday, when they were beaten 1-0 by play-off hopefuls Wrexham.

The South Yorkshire side have also endured a tough winter transfer window, as club legend Barry Bannan joined Millwall, but Wednesday could retain Svante Ingelsson before the February 2 deadline - what fans would surely like the most though is to exit administration.

Mike Ashley retains interest in Sheffield Wednesday takeover

Bord remains the Owls' preferred bidder, but Wednesday's administrators, Begbies Traynor, will have to turn elsewhere if he fails the EFL's Owners' and Directors' test.

Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, who was a controversial figure in the North East, had been interested in a takeover of the Hillsborough outfit before Bord's consortium were granted exclusivity - but could he return to the table if the Dunfermline Athletic owner's bid does not go through?

TalkSPORT reporter and Sheffield Star columnist Alan Biggs revealed his own news on the matter on Saturday, stating: "I see Mike Ashley’s name has resurfaced in reports & comments on the SWFC takeover situation.

"I’ve had folk asking about him. On that basis, I’ve checked with sources. Led to believe he’d still be interested, dependent on the outcome of the preferred bid."

It will likely create more speculation as to whether the current bid for Sheffield Wednesday is going to go through, with one of the reasons that club icon Bannan left for Millwall being that Bord was 'unable to make any binding commitments' at that moment until a resolution was met in regards to the ownership of the club.

Sheffield Wednesday supporters may be wary of Mike Ashley following Dejphon Chansiri hardship

Wednesday supporters are desperately and nervously waiting for their club to be purchased, to put an end to their current time in administration.

The Owls faithful are already resigned to the reality of seeing their side in League One next term, following three consecutive seasons in the Championship.

However, the long-term future of the South Yorkshire club is still at stake, and is not something that the dedicated fanbase can feel relaxed about.

Courtesy of Dejphon Chansiri's disastrous reign at the Wednesday ownership helm, several star players and former boss Danny Rohl left Hillsborough last summer, after their wages were paid late.

Owls supporters may be wary of Ashley, though, as the businessman was a universally disliked figure among Newcastle fans, thanks to his lack of ambition, while he also sold the naming rights of St James' Park.

But it's hard to argue about Ashley's business acumen - he's successful in that world and he managed to get £300 million